The Euro became the official currency of 12 European countries on
January 1st, 2002.
Travellers to Austria, Belgium, Finland,
France, Germany,
Greece, Holland,
Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Portugal
and Spain would ned the new notes.
With open borders between these countries, it does make sense for
travellers to have the same currency in their pockets when travelling within the
Euro-zone.
For residents though, the new year brought some confusion and
nostalgia for their old currency.
Bars in Milan were still giving change in Lira (they didn't have
enough Euros) and some Germans tried to pay with Euro notes and German small change - not
the way to do it.
Euro Banknotes
The Euro banknotes are identical, regardless of the country they're
issued in, and come in denominations of 5 EUR, 10 EUR, 20 EUR, 50 EUR, 100 EUR, 200 EUR
and 500 EUR.
The notes differ in size and colour and depict different architectural
styles. There were also many added security features to try and reduce the chance of
forged notes flooding the market, before people even had a chance to feel the new notes in
their hands.
The designs are symbolic for Europe's architectural heritage, although
they don't represent any real monuments - which reside in individual coutries and would
have been a niggling point between the member states.
Windows and gateways decorate the front of the banknotes (as symbols
of the spirit of openness and cooperation in the European Union) while a bridge from a
particular age is the design on the back; a metaphor for communication among the people of
Europe and between Europe and the rest of the world.
Euro Coins
There are 8 euro coins denominated in 2 and 1 euros, then 50, 20, 10,
5, 2 and 1 cents.
Every euro coin carries a common European face. On the reverse, each
Member State has decorated the coins with their own motifs. No matter which motif is on
the coins they can be used anywhere inside the 12 Member States. For example, a French
citizen will be able to buy a Bratwurst in Berlin using a euro coin carrying the imprint
of the King of Spain.
The common European face of the coins represents a map of the European
Union against a background of transverse lines to which are attached the stars of the
European flag.
The 1,2 and 5 cent coins put emphasis on Europe's place in the world
while the 10, 20 and 50 present the Union as a gathering of nations. The 1 and 2 euro
coins depict Europe without frontiers.
5 Euro Banknote
 
Size: 120 x 62 mm | Colour: Grey | Architectural style: Classical
10 Euro Banknote
 
Size: 127 x 67 mm | Colour: Red | Architectural style: Romanesque
20 Euro Banknote
 
Size: 133 x 72 mm | Colour: Blue | Architectural style: Gothic
50 Euro Banknote
 
Size: 140 x 77 mm | Colour: Orange | Architectural style: Renaissance
100 Euro Banknote
 
Size: 147 x 82 mm | Colour: Green | Architectural style: Baroque and Rococo
200 Euro Banknote
 
Size: 153 x 82 mm | Colour: Yellow-Brown | Architectural style: Iron and Glass
500 Euro Banknote
 
Size: 160 x 82 mm | Colour: Purple | Architectural style: Modern
By Michel.
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