INTRODUCTION:

Since 1 January 2002 the euro banknotes and coins have

been part of everyday life for over 300 million people in the
euro area. This leaflet depicts the seven euro banknotes
and the eight euro coins, including their security features.
The banknotes – inspired by the architectural styles of
seven periods in Europe’s cultural history – are of an
identical design throughout all member countries of the
euro area. While the side of the euro coins depicting three
different maps of Europe is common to all 12 countries, the
country specific reverse side features designs which reflect
each member country’s national identity. On the basis of a
monetary agreement, the Principality of Monaco, the
Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City State are also
allowed to issue their own euro coins. All of the banknotes
and coins are legal tender in any member country of the
euro area.
Watermark
Look at the banknote against the light. A faint image and the value
become visible. If, however, you put the banknote on a dark surface, the
watermark becomes darker.

Security thread
Look at the banknote against the light. The security thread – a dark line
running through the banknote – becomes visible. The word “EURO” and
the value can be seen in tiny letters in the thread.

See-through number
Look at the banknote against the light. The marks printed in the top left
corner on the front and the top right corner on the back of the banknote
combine perfectly to form the value.
Launching the Europa series
The Europa series
The new banknotes are called the Europa series because two of their
security features contain a portrait of Europa – a figure from Greek
mythology and the origin of the name of our continent. The Europa series
banknotes are being introduced gradually over several years, in ascending
order. The three first banknotes in the new series, the €5, the €10 and the
€20, started circulating in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively. The new €50
was unveiled on 5 July 2016 and will start circulating in April 2017.

Denominations

The ECB has decided to permanently stop producing the €500 euro
banknote and to exclude it from the Europa series. The other
denominations remain unchanged: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200.
The new series includes new and enhanced security features which offer
better protection against counterfeiting.

Design evolution

The new banknotes represent an evolution. They still feature the "ages and
styles" design of the first series and show the same dominant colors, but
have been slightly modified to accommodate the enhanced security
features. This also makes them easy to distinguish from the first series. An
independent banknote designer based in Berlin, Reinhold Gerstetter, was
selected to refresh the design of the notes.

Designs for the visually impaired

As with the first series of banknotes, visually impaired users were consulted
during the design phase of the Europa series, which led to the inclusion of
specific features in the final designs.
Durability

The first two denominations of the Europa series to be issued were the €5
and €10 banknotes. As both denominations change hands frequently since
they are often used for change, they have a thin protective coating to make
them more durable. This means that the banknotes will need to be replaced
less frequently, thereby reducing the cost and the impact on the
environment.

REFRESHED DESIGN, ENHANCED SECURITY

The new banknotes represent an evolution. They still feature the “ages and
style” designs of the first series, but they have been modified slightly to
accommodate the enhanced security features. This also helps to make the
new banknotes easy to distinguish from the first series. An independent
banknote designer based in Berlin, Reinhold Gerstetter, was selected to
refresh the design of the euro banknotes.

EASY TO SPOT AND MORE SECURE

The new security features of the Europa series are easy to locate on the
banknotes and make the new notes resistant to counterfeiting.

GRADUAL LAUNCH
The introduction of the Europa series of banknotes will differ from the euro
changeover in 2002 for several reasons.

The various denominations are being issued at different points in time, so

the introduction of the whole series will take several years, unlike the big-
bang changeover which took place in 2002.

Given the gradual introduction of the new banknotes and the fact that each
country has its own “cash cycle”, the notes will not appear simultaneously
across the euro area.
PARALLEL CIRCULATION, INDEFINITE VALIDITY
In order to use up remaining stocks, in many euro area countries the
banknotes of the first series will continue to be issued for several months
alongside the new banknotes. The two series will circulate in parallel as
legal tender. The date when the first series ceases to be legal tender will be
announced well in advance; however, the first series of banknotes will be
exchangeable for an indefinite period of time at the Euro system.

INNOVATIVE, MORE SECURE EURO BANKNOTES:

The new €20 banknote is the third banknote of the Europa series.
It represents a breakthrough in banknote technology because it
contains an additional innovative security feature: The portrait
window in the hologram. When the banknote is held against
the light, the window becomes transparent and reveals a
portrait of Europa which is visible on both sides of the note.
The portrait is also included in the watermark.

Europa is a figure from Greek mythology and the origin of our

continent’s name. The new €20, like the new €5 and €10, includes
an emerald number. All these innovations make the new series of
euro banknotes even more difficult to counterfeit and boost
confidence in the currency.

The Euro system – that is, the ECB and the euro area national
central banks – has a duty to safeguard the integrity of euro
banknotes by regularly improving their security features, making
them more difficult to counterfeit. Like the new €5 and €10 notes,
the new €20 banknote is printed on cotton paper because
Europeans prefer the traditional feel of paper money.

Today 338 million Europeans in 19 countries across Europe share

the euro. They are stronger together, thanks to their trust in the
euro, which has proved to be a reliable global currency.