What are all the euro banknotes that exist?

It exists 7 denominations of euro banknotes : 5 €, 10 €, 20 €, 50 €, 100 €, 200 € and 500 €. These banknote denominations were put into circulation in two separate series, each with different designs and security features.

Here's everything you need to know, series by series.

The Design and Appearance of Euro Banknotes

Unlike parts, although the reverse side varies by country, all euro banknotes share the same design throughout the eurozone. No matter which Member State prints them, they are identical. They are manufactured in 100% cotton, which makes them durable and easy to recognize by touch.

In terms of design, each bill features common symbolic motifs:

• Regarding the windows and gates on the front, in recognition of the European Union’s spirit of openness and cooperation; ;
• 12 stars on the front, for the dynamism and harmony of Europe; ;
• Regarding the bridges on the reverse side, symbols of the connection between the peoples of Europe and the rest of the world; ;
• the European Union flag.

Each ticket also bears official legal notices:

• EURO, the name of the currency in Latin characters ;
• ΕΥΡΩ, the same word in Greek characters ;
• The initials of the ECB (ECB, EZB, EKT…) in the various official languages; ;
• The signature the President of the ECB; ;
• the copyright symbol (©).

To verify the authenticity of a bill, the Banque de France and the ECB recommend the method «touch, look, tilt» :

• To touch : You can feel the texture of the print and the cotton fibers under your fingers; ;
• To look at backlit: a watermark and a safety thread appears as a transparent overlay; ;
• Tilt the post: the’hologram changes color and creates a sense of movement.

You can find complete details about these safety signs on the ECB's official website.

Euro banknotes of the first series

The first series Euro banknotes were put into circulation on January 1, 2002, the day when physical bills and coins became part of our daily lives. Note: The euro has been in existence since 1999, but only through written transactions (bank transfers, checks) until that date.

This series includes 7 values, of €5 to €500. Each denomination has its own dominant color, size, and architectural style. The higher the denomination, the larger the bill, which also helps the people with visual impairments to distinguish the bills by touch. The table below summarizes the main characteristics of each bill.

The Special Case of the 500-Euro Bill

the the largest euro bill deserves further clarification. The ECB announced in May 2016 the cancellation of its show, which ended on January 26, 2019 (and continued through April 2019 in Germany and Austria).

National central banks therefore no longer produce it.

However, there is still legal tender for an indefinite period. You can still use it as a means of payment and exchange it at any central bank in the eurozone without any time limit. It has never been demonetized, contrary to what many people believe.

Euro banknotes from the «Europe» series»

The Europe series was conceived by the ECB primarily to combat counterfeiting, with security features that are far more advanced than those in the first series. It does not include only 6 values, of €5 to €200 : The 500-euro bill is not included, in order to curb certain illegal activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing.

The first bill in the series to be put into circulation, the 5 €, entered circulation on May 2, 2013. The other denominations were then issued in ascending order of value, year after year.

The dominant colors and architectural styles remain the same as those in the first series. Only the sizes of the 100- and 200-euro bills have changed slightly. The following table details the characteristics and dates of issue for each bill.

Safety signs from the Europe series

The official method of the ECB consists of three simple steps, all of which can be performed with the naked eye:

• To touch : The paper is stiff and crisp, with a noticeable texture on the edges and on the main inscription; ;
• To look at in the light: a watermark and a safety thread appears as a transparent overlay; ;
• Tilt The ticket: The strip or hologram displays a Portrait of Europe, and the color changes on the large bills.

These security features help maintain confidence in the currency in circulation. For more details, visit the European Central Bank’s website: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/security/html/index.fr.html. If you’re wondering about its long-term stability, you can also read why The euro is losing value and understand the mechanisms at work.

What about the 500-euro bill in the Europa series?

The post by 500 € does not exist in the Europe series. It went off the air on January 26, 2019 (until April 2019 in Germany and Austria), but it retains its legal tender indefinitely throughout the eurozone.

You can use it to make a payment or exchange it at any time at the counters of national central banks. For exchanges in France, you can contact the Banque de France directly: https://www.banque-france.fr/fr/billets-et-pieces.

If you want to learn more about payment methods, you should know, for example, that a 10-euro coin also has a special status that you should be aware of.

And if you're curious to see how other currencies are produced, the article on the CFA franc and the process of making it makes for an interesting read.