Euro Money Sign: Design and Security Features of Euro Banknotes
The euro, represented by the Euro Money Sign (€), is the official currency of 19 of the 27 member states of the European Union. These countries, known as the eurozone, encompass a population of over 340 million people. Euro banknotes, featuring various denominations and intricate designs, are essential to the economic landscape of Europe.
The design of euro banknotes incorporates architectural styles from different historical periods in Europe. While these styles are clearly represented, the banknotes do not depict any actual existing monuments or bridges. Instead, they showcase generic representations of architectural periods like Classical, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo, and 19th-century iron and glass architecture. This symbolic representation reinforces the shared cultural heritage of the eurozone.
On the front of each euro banknote, windows and doorways symbolize the European spirit of openness and cooperation. On the reverse side, bridges represent communication between the people of Europe and between Europe and the rest of the world. This visual language underscores the interconnectedness and unity fostered by the euro currency.
A geographical representation of Europe is featured on the back of each euro banknote. This map includes countries like Malta and Cyprus, and even small boxes indicate the Canary Islands and some French overseas territories where the euro is used. However, very small islands are not represented due to the limitations of high-volume offset printing.
Each euro banknote denomination has a distinct color: grey for €5, red for €10, blue for €20, orange for €50, green for €100, and yellow-brown for €200. These colors aid in quick visual recognition and differentiation of the various denominations.
Further design elements include the word “euro” in both Latin (EURO) and Greek (EYPΩ) alphabets. In addition, the Cyrillic alphabet (EBPO) is included to reflect Bulgaria joining the EU. The initials of the European Central Bank are printed in multiple linguistic variations, according to the EU protocol order for countries and official languages.
The euro money sign (€), along with the EU flag and copyright symbol, are prominently displayed on each banknote. These symbols represent the legal tender status and intellectual property protection of the currency. Visually impaired users were consulted during the design process, leading to the inclusion of specific tactile features to aid in identification.
Each banknote carries the signature of the President of the European Central Bank at the time of its printing. While different presidents have held this position, all euro banknotes bearing valid signatures remain legal tender. Serial numbers, comprising a horizontal and vertical number on the back, are used for tracking and security purposes. The horizontal number includes a letter identifying the printing works responsible for producing the banknote. A table further outlines the specific printing works associated with each letter code used in the serial numbers.