Europa Series Introduction

The Europa series banknotes have been introduced gradually over several years, in ascending order. The two first banknotes in the new series, the €5 and €10, started circulating in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The new €20 was unveiled on 24 February 2015 and started circulating on 25 November 2015. The Eurosystem has presented the new Europa series 50 euro banknote to the public on 5 July 2016 and it has been put into circulation on 4 April 2017. The new 100 and 200 banknotes have been presented to the public on 17 September 2018 and are in circulation since 28 May 2019.

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 differed from the euro changeover in 2002 for several reasons.

The various denominations were issued at different points in time, so the introduction of the whole series took 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 continued to be issued for several months alongside the new banknotes. The two series 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 Eurosystem NCBs.