Banksy Di-Faced Tenner, 2004

Edition of 6

Banksy
Di-Faced Tenner, 2004
Offset lithograph on paper
10 × 17.5 cm (approx.)
Unsigned / Signed editions

Banksy’s Di-Faced Tenner is one of the artist’s most iconic and provocative interventions into the relationship between art, value, and trust. Created in 2004, the work reimagines the familiar British £10 note, replacing the image of Queen Elizabeth II with that of the late Princess Diana, alongside the inscription “Banksy of England.” The title itself — a play on “defaced tenner” — reveals the artist’s wit and subversive commentary on both authority and authenticity.

Originally, these notes were produced not as limited-edition prints but as part of a guerrilla stunt. Banksy reportedly printed thousands of these counterfeit-style notes and distributed them during public events, including at the Notting Hill Carnival and the Reading Festival. Many people mistook them for genuine currency, underscoring Banksy’s sharp critique of how easily society confuses perceived legitimacy with true value — both in money and in art.

The substitution of Princess Diana for the Queen adds another layer of cultural tension. Diana, often described as the “people’s princess,” became a symbol of compassion and rebellion against royal tradition. By featuring her on the nation’s currency, Banksy transforms the note into a statement about celebrity, power, and the commodification of tragedy. The work speaks to Britain’s obsession with fame and the blurred line between reverence and exploitation in popular culture.

Today, Di-Faced Tenner stands as one of Banksy’s most collectible and conceptually rich works — a perfect encapsulation of his ability to merge satire, politics, and art-market irony. What began as a mischievous street-level prank has evolved into a coveted artifact of 21st-century pop culture, raising enduring questions about what gives anything — be it art or money — its worth.