Di Faced Tenner, a Fake £10 Note by Banksy

Di Faced Tenner, a Fake £10 Note by Banksy at Dane Fine Art

The Fascinating History Behind Banksy’s Fake £10 Note: the Di-Faced Tenner

London’s famous Notting Hill Carnival became even more famous in 2004 when someone ran into the crowd, threw what appeared to be a big chunk of money into the air, and ran off. Curious carnival-goers naturally descended on the unexpected windfall. They grabbed as many 10-pound notes as they could and ran off to spend the money at carnival shops.

Unfortunately, what they tried to spend was not real money. It was art.

Created and printed by the notorious street artist Banksy, the Di Faced Tenner spoofed real £10 notes. His representation replaced the “Bank of England” words with “Banksy of England”. He also put a picture of Princess Diana’s head on the notes instead of Queen Elizabeth II. Replacing Queen Elizabeth II with Lady Diana alluded to the name given by the British press to Diana when she was alive–“the people’s princess”. 

An inscription on the front of the note says, “I promise to pay the bearer on demand the ultimate price”. The changed motto under Charles Darwin’s portrait on the back of each note proclaimed, “Trust No One”.

More Di Faced Tenner notes later turned up at the Reading Festival and London Art Exhibition. After the initial introduction of his latest artwork, Banksy or a representative of Banksy told the press that “Di faced” was an alternative version of the word “defaced” meant to indicate they were counterfeit notes. 

As an attention-grabbing approach to what Banksy saw as capitalism at its worst, the Di-Faced Tenner notes were thrown into the air. The act of throwing Di-Faced Tenner notes was meant to emphasize how easily people could be manipulated with money “falling from the sky”. 

Although Banksy’s counterfeit money art was worth nothing when introduced to the public, its value significantly increased once he admitted to being the artist behind the hoax.

The Story Behind Di Faced Tenner and the British Museum

London’s British Museum is home to nearly nine million works of art and considered one of the most comprehensive museums in the world. But it became the victim of yet another one of Banksy’s playful deceptions when he secretly placed fake artwork in the museum soon after the Di Faced Tenner event. 

Di Faced Tenner, a Fake £10 Note by Banksy, Backside

However, the British Museum did not hold a grudge because they added Banksy art to its galleries in 2019. If you visit the British Museum today, you will find Di Faced Tenner notes in the museum’s collection of real paper money and coins. These notes were graciously donated by Banksy himself.

How to Spot a Genuine Di Faced Tenner

About 100,000 Di Faced Tenner £10 notes are thought to have been printed in 2004. However, nobody including Banksy himself, knows exactly how many were printed. One thing is for sure though, Banksy’s Di Faced Tenner notes are worth much, much more than the paper they were printed on.

Before you purchase a Di Faced Tenner, look for the following signs of authenticity:

  • “Banksy of England” replaces “Bank of England”.
  • Princess Diana’s face replaces Queen Elizabeth II’s face.
  • Charles Darwin’s image remains on the back. Underneath should be the words “Trust No One”.
  • Printed on the front of the note should be the words “I promise to pay the bearer on demand the ultimate price”.
  • Authentic Di Faced Tenner notes should measure 5 4⁄5 x 3 inches (7.62 x 14.61 cm). Anything smaller or larger indicates a fake note.
  • Banksy printed his Di Faced Tenner notes on light-weight paper, like the kind of paper real money is printed on. Notes printed on heavy, thick, “museum-grade” paper are fake.
  • A Di Faced Tenner note that is accompanied by a COA issued by Banksy’s former agent Steven Lazarides is genuine. Lazarides’ certificates of authenticity have a hologram that should match the Di Faced Tenner it comes with

Be Very Careful About the Di Faced Tenner Note You Buy

When you purchase a Di Faced Tenner note from Dane Fine Art, you can be sure you are receiving a Banksy original first produced in 2004. Call Dane Fine Art today to learn more about our collection of Tenner notes.

Recent Posts

Contact Us

Phone:
267-687-8378

Address:
606 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia PA 19123

Menu