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The new series of banknotes

Banknotes in the amount of € 500 will not be released in circulation anymore

On 4 May 2016, the European Central Bank had decided to cease printing and issuing banknotes in the amount of 500€ and as a result, starting on 27 January 2019, 17 out of 19 euro area national central banks will no longer issue banknotes in the amount of 500€.

In order to ensure a smooth transition and for logistical reasons, the Bank of Germany and the Bank of Austria will continue to issue this denomination until 26 April 2019.

Existing banknotes in the amount of 500€ will to continue to remain legal tender and can be used as a means of payment and will always preserve their value (ie you may spend or save it).

Also commercial banks, exchange offices and other commercial parties may continue to recirculate the existing banknote of the amount of 500€. As all other denominations of euro banknotes (first series), the denomination in the amount of 500€ will always maintain its value and can be exchanged at a national central bank of the euro area at any time.

The full design of new 100€ and 200€ banknotes is unveiled On 17th of September 2018, the European Central

Bank (ECB) has unveiled the full design of banknotes (Europa series) of 100€ and 200€ denominations that will put into circulation on 28th of May 2019.

After the €5, €10, €20 and €50, the €100 and €200 new series banknotes are the last two denominations marking the completion of the circle of issuance of new banknotes since in 4th of May 2016 ECB decided to terminate the production and issuance in circulation of the 500 € banknote. However, the first series 500 € banknote remains a legal tender, and shall forever retain its value.

The new €100 and €200 banknotes make use of new and innovative security features. Just like the other denominations, the new 100 € and 200€ notes are easy to check when using the “FEEL, LOOK and TILT” method.

The new €100 and €200 notes are a different size compared to the old €100 and €200 notes. Both denominations of 100€ and 200€ are now the same height as the €50 banknote. However, their length remains unchanged – the longer the note, the higher the value. Since the €50, €100 and €200 banknotes are now the same height, they can be more easily handled and processed by processing machines. They will also fit better in people’s wallets and last longer, as they will be subject to less wear and tear

In addition to the security features that can be seen with the naked eye, euro banknotes also contain machine-readable security features. On the new €100 and €200 banknotes these features have been enhanced, and new ones have been added to enable the notes to be processed and authenticated swiftly. The second series of banknotes will provide increased protection against counterfeiting. This makes euro banknotes even more secure, but also easier to check and handle

New €20 banknote full design unveiled

On 24 February 2015, the European Central Bank (ECB), unveiled the new €20 banknote design at the ECB’s event in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The new €20 note is the third in the Europa series and like the first and second series of €5 and €10 banknotes the new €20 banknote has a refreshed design and contains an additional innovative security feature.

The new €20 banknote will enter circulation on November 25, 2015 in the entire Eurozone.

The new 20 €banknote – its front side

Unveiling full design of the new €5 banknote

On January10, 2013 the European Central Bank (ECB), unveiled the new €5 banknote at an event at the Archaeological Museum in Frankfurt am Main. Comparing to first series of €5 banknote, new Europa series contains an additional innovative security feature.

For more information about security features of the new currency in the amount of the € 5 banknote please refer to the official websit

The second series of banknotes

On November 8, 2012 Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank (ECB) announced the introduction of the second series of euro banknotes, called “Europa”. The first note of the new series to be released into circulation across the euro area on May 2013 was the €5 banknote.

The full design of the new currency in the amount of € 5 was unveiled at an event held on the Archaeological Museum of Frankfurt am Main, on January 10, 2013. Images of the full design of the new € 5 banknote were not made available to the media and the public until the date.

Key Dates

November 8, 2012: ECB announces the introduction of a new series of euro banknotes, starting with the€ 5 note, and revealing three security features of this banknote.

January 10, 2013: Unveil of full design of the new 5 € banknote.

May 2013: The new € 5 banknote started circulating in May 2013 in the entire euro area (the exact date was communicated on January 10, 2013).

€ 5 Banknote security features to the Europa series

As with the first series of euro banknotes, the Europa series is easy to check using the “FEEL, Look and TILT” method. No tools are necessary “Feel” feature of the new 5 € banknote was revealed on January 10, 2013 along with its full design.

The new euro banknotes incorporate enhanced security features that draw on advances in banknote security and technology. The new series includes new and enhanced security features which are easily detected and keep banknotes up to date in terms of reproducing euro banknote images and offer better protection against counterfeiting.

Portrait watermark - Look at the banknote against the light. A faint image showing the value of the banknote, a window and a portrait of Europa becomes visible.

Security thread, Portrait hologram - Look at the banknote against the light. The security silver thread appears as a dark stripe and the value of the banknote can be seen in tiny white lettering, a portrait of Europa and a window also appear.

Emerald number

Tilt the banknote. On the new banknote, the shiny number in the bottom left corner displays an effect of the light that moves up and down. The number also changes colour from emerald green to deep blue.

Launching the Europa series
Europa Series
The new euro banknotes are called the Europa series because some of their security features contain a portrait of Europa, a figure from Greek mythology and the origin of the name of our continent.
Denominations remain unchanged

The new euro banknotes are to be introduced gradually over several years, in ascending order and starting with the new €5 banknote. The denominations remain unchanged: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
Issuance time
The exact timing of the issuance of the other denominations will be determined and announced to the public and cash handlers at a later stage
Banknote equipment manufacturers
Banknote equipment manufacturers have been involved in the development of the Europa series to allow them to prepare for the introduction of the new banknotes.
Enhanced security features
The new series includes new and enhanced security features which will offer better protection against counterfeiting.
Design Evolution
The new euro banknotes present an evolution but they still feature the “AGES AND STYLES” design of the first series and use the same dominant colours, but have been slightly modified to accommodate the enhanced security features. This also makes them to be easy distinguished from the first series.

Design for visually impaired users
As with the first series of euro banknotes, visually impaired users were consulted during the design phase of the second series, and their requirements were included in the final designs.
The €5 banknote will be launched first
The €5 banknote is the first denomination of the Europa series to be launched. As it is one of the denominations most heavily exposed to wear and tear, its durability has been improved by applying a coating.
Parallel circulation of old and new banknotes
In order to use up remaining stocks, the €5 banknotes of the first series will be issued for several months alongside the new €5 banknotes. In any case, for each denomination both series will continue to circulate in parallel as legal tender.

Banknotes of the first series will always retain their value
The date when the first series of euro banknotes ceases to be legal tender will be announced well in advance. However, the banknotes of the first series will always retain their value: they can be exchanged for an unlimited period of time at the Eurosystem National Central Banks.