What are the denominations of Euro denominations?

Euro as official currency was released in 1999, replacing the monetary unit used before in the European monetary system under the name ECU (existing since 1978) in the ratio 1: 1. At first it was non-cash circulation - a kind of parallel currency of the countries that were part of the economic and monetary union. Cash (coins and banknotes) of the euro appeared on January 1, 2002.

Some statistics

To date, the euro is the official currency of the seventeen countries that are members of the Eurozone, and also has circulation in nine countries that do not belong to it (seven of them are located in Europe). If we put together all the euros, the total amount of cash in circulation will be even greater than the number of US dollars.

Banknote denominations and design

At present, the following denominations of Euro bills are known: 5 €, 10 €, 20 €, 50 €, 100 €, 200 € and 500 € - only seven denominations. One euro equals 100 euro cents. In addition to banknotes in circulation, there are coins. The smallest among them is one cent coin, and the largest one is two euros.

The design of the new currency was selected by the European Monetary Institute on a specially assembled consultation. Of the 44 entries, Robert E. Kalin made sketches of the euro. Nominal denominations, according to the proposed project, depends on the size of banknotes. Each banknote depicts the map of the European Union and its flag. Also there are inscriptions in all languages, made in Latin and Greek transcriptions. In May 2013, a bill of 5 € with an inscription in Cyrillic alphabet was put into circulation.

On each banknote there are images of windows and gates on one side, and bridges on the other. From the image of really existing buildings decided to abandon, replacing them only with the styles of European architecture of different eras.

Euro banknotes have several degrees of protection: special paper, watermarks, embedded metalized strip, holograms, special seal, etc. But, nevertheless, this did not save the new currency from counterfeiting.

What are the denominations of Euro bills most often?

After the appearance of the new currency, naturally, their counterfeits also appeared. In Russia, fake euros came about six months after their appearance in Europe. As it always happens with the advent of new money - the first fakes the quality of performance did not differ. But, as they say, there is no limit to perfection - in due course to distinguish fake from the original it becomes more difficult. Fake euros come to Russia mainly from abroad. Most often, the European currency is forged in Lithuania, and sold in Germany. Nominal denominations of euros, which are often counterfeited in Europe, are 10, 20 and 50 €. In Russia, these are banknotes worth 50, 100 and 200 €. Also in the European Union countries there are circulation of counterfeit coins worth 2 €.

How to distinguish a fake note from the real one?

If you do not know the original before you or a fake, pay attention to the following points:

• Tactile sensations. The banknotes are printed on special paper, which is rarely found in everyday life. In addition, images on the front side of the banknote are made with metallography, which provides surface relief.
• Kinegram (pressed into the paper metallized element). When you rotate at different angles, it changes its reflection.
• Water marks. They should be clear and contrast.
• All denominations of Euro denominations are printed using special paint. When you change the angle, the color should change, not the hue.

In conclusion, it should be noted that there is still no universal way to identify a fake. Mistakes can even be made by specialists who have at their disposal sensitive detectors. By the way, according to statistics, counterfeit dollars are much more common than the euro.