EUR – European Monetary Union
Monetary System
01.01.1999: 1 euro (EUR) = 100 cent
European Central Bank
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. For more information, visit www.ecb.eu.
2013 – 2019 Europa Issues
On 10 January 2013, Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, unveiled the first “Europa” series banknote with new and enhanced security features. The watermark and hologram display a portrait of Europa, a figure from Greek mythology – and hence the name of this series of banknotes. An eye-catching SPARK “emerald number” changes color from emerald green to deep blue and displays an effect of the light that moves up and down. Short raised lines on the left and right edges of the banknote make it easier to identify the banknote, especially for visually impaired people.These security features are included in all denominations of the new “Europa” series, which retain the dominant colors of the first “Ages and Styles” series.
According to a press release dated 4 May 2016, the European Central Bank will discontinue production and issuance of the 500-euro banknote in 2018, though existing notes will remain legal tender. The new Europa series will not include the 500-euro denomination.
European Monetary Union 2013 – 2019 Europa Issues
Description: 5.00 EUR – Euro Size: 120 x 62 mm
Gray. Front: Flag; classical architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 5 EURO. Watermark: Head of Europa and electrotype 5. 120 x 62 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 EUR – Euro Size: 127 x 67 mm
Red. Front: Flag; Romanesque architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 10 EURO. Watermark: Head of Europa and electrotype 10. 127 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 EUR – Euro Size: 133 x 72 mm
Blue. Front: Flag; Gothic architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 20 EURO. Watermark: Head of Europa and electrotype 20. 133 x 72 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 EUR – Euro Size: 140 x 77 mm
Orange. Front: Flag; Renaissance architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 50 EURO. Watermark: Head of Europa and electrotype 50. 140 x 77 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 EUR – Euro Size: 147 x 77 mm
Green. Front: Flag; baroque and rococo architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 100 EURO. Watermark: Head of Europa and electrotype 100. 147 x 77 mm. Paper.
Description: 200.00 EUR – Euro Size: 153 x 77 mm
Yellow. Front: Flag; iron and glass architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 200 EURO. Watermark: Head of Europa and electrotype 200. Printer: 153 x 77 mm. Paper.
2002 Ages and Styles Issues
These notes were designed by Robert Kalina of the Austrian central bank (Oesterreichische Nationalbank). His designs based on the theme “Ages and Styles of Europe” won the competition held in 1996. They represent the architectural styles of seven periods in Europe’s cultural history. Windows and gateways are the main features on the front of the banknotes, and bridges on the back. The illustrations are of typical examples of architecture of each period rather than of particular buildings.
All of these notes bear the copyright date of 2002. When initially issued on 1 January 2002, there were 12 member states. Since then, there have been two new signatories (Trichet in 2003 and Draghi in 2011), and five additional countries have adopted the euro (Slovenia in 2007, Cyprus and Malta in 2008, Slovakia in 2009, and Estonia in 2011). Furthermore, not all denominations were printed for each country. As such, not all signature varieties are available on all prefixes for all countries.
European Monetary Union 2002 Ages and Styles Issues
Description: 5.00 EUR – Euro Size: 120 x 62 mm
Gray. Front: Flag; classical architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 5 EURO. Watermark: Gateway and electrotype 5. 120 x 62 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 EUR – Euro Size: 127 x 67 mm
Red. Front: Flag; Romanesque architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 10 EURO. Watermark: Gateway and electrotype 10. 127 x 67 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 EUR – Euro Size: 133 x 72 mm
Blue. Front: Flag; Gothic architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread with demetalized 20 EURO. Watermark: Window and electrotype 20. 133 x 72 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 EUR – Euro Size: 140 x 77 mm
Orange. Front: Flag; Renaissance architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic patch. Solid security thread with demetalized 50 EURO. Watermark: Window and electrotype 50. 140 x 77 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 EUR – Euro Size: 147 x 82 mm
Green. Front: Flag; baroque and rococo architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic patch. Solid security thread with demetalized 100 EURO. Watermark: Gateway and electrotype 100. 147 x 82 mm. Paper.
Description: 200.00 EUR – Euro Size: 153 x 82 mm
Yellow. Front: Flag; iron and glass architecture. Back: Bridge; map. Holographic patch. Solid security thread with demetalized 200 EURO. Watermark: Window and electrotype 200. 153 x 82 mm. Paper.
Description: 500.00 EUR – Euro Size: 160 x 82 mm
Purple. Front: Flag; 20th-century architecture. Back: Cable-stay bridges; map. Holographic patch. Solid security thread with demetalized 500 EURO. Watermark: Door and electrotype 500. 160 x 82 mm. Paper.