20 Pound B Series 14/11/90 Irish Note

Iconic piece of Irish numismatic history: the Series B £20 "W.B. Yeats" banknote. First introduced in 1980 as part of the Central Bank of Ireland’s "Series B" banknote issue, this note replaced the long-standing "Lady Lavery" design and remained in circulation until 1992, when it was superseded by the Series C.


Design Details:

Front (Obverse): Features a portrait of William Butler Yeats (1865–1939), the Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet and dramatist, alongside a depiction of the legendary hero Cú Chulainn. The design utilizes a dominant blue and grey color scheme, incorporating intricate geometric patterns inspired by Celtic revival art.

Back (Reverse): Features a scenic illustration of the Blasket Islands off the coast of County Kerry, accompanied by an excerpt from the classic Irish autobiography An tOileánach ("The Islandman") by Tomás Ó Criomhthain, reflecting the rugged beauty and literary heritage of the Gaeltacht.


Historical Context:

Issued by the Central Bank of Ireland, the Series B banknotes marked a shift in Irish currency design, celebrating figures of Irish history, literature, and culture rather than allegorical portraits. This £20 note is a quintessential example of late 20th-century Irish design and serves as a tangible link to a pivotal era of the Irish pound before its replacement by the Series C issue.



See images for condition.



Post and Packaging:

Standard Post: €2.50

Registered Post: €10.50