• Di-Faced Tenners, 2004
    Offset lithograph on wove paper, printed on both sides of the sheet
    45cm x 30cm
    Edition of 50 (Signed)
     

    Di-Faced Tenners, 2004

    Di-Faced Tenners, 2004 are a print release of uncut sheets of counterfeit, modified £10 notes. The print covers both sides of the sheet and features multiple variations on the legal tender. Approximately £1,000,000 of notes were printed as part of a stunts at Notting Hill and Reading Festival in 2004. P.O.W, Pictures on Walls, Banksy's previous publishers, later released a print run of 50 uncut sheets, 5 x 2 grid of notes.
     
    The term di-faced is a play on words of defaced and Di-faced as the portrait of Elizabeth II has been replaced by Princess Diana. Other details also include 'Banksy of England' and the banner of 'I promise to pay the bearer on demand the ultimate price'. Smaller changes also include 'Trust No One' and 'P.O.W Defaced Currency' in reference to Pictures on Walls. 
  • “It’s going to take one very special lady, or a whole load of average ones, to get over you”

     

    - Banksy

    The meticulous detail in the counterfeit notes underscores the absurdity of assigning value to money, while their distribution questions the permanence of art itself. The uncut sheets also play with the concept of value, both in art and in currency, as the altered notes transition from a cheeky public stunt to sought-after collectible artworks. By placing these counterfeit notes in a high-demand art market, Banksy raises questions about the arbitrary value assigned to objects, whether as money or art. These tiny yet deliberate changes invite closer inspection, rewarding audiences who engage with the work more deeply. Furthermore, the mass production aesthetic of the prints contrasts with their eventual scarcity, as only 50 uncut sheets were released officially. This juxtaposition amplifies the irony of creating 'rare' objects inspired by something as ubiquitous as currency.