Letter: A number of symbols

Sir: To enable us to tell one note from another, the Bank of England now adds meaningless symbols - such as circles, diamonds and squares - to the currency (2 March). But we already have perfectly adequate symbols for 'five' and 'ten' and 'twenty'. They are recognised internationally, they are called numerals and are 5, 10 and 20. If the Bank had ensured that these were reproduced clearly in the first place, there would be no need to muck up the currency any further. As for the problem of counterfeiting, why not take advice from other central banks? Many make a better fist of preserving the appearance (and the value) of their currencies than does our Bank of England.

Yours sincerely,

C. P. MacIVOR

London, W9