Banknotes.eu follows euro banknotes from their introduction in 2002 to the designs now being considered for the next series.
Here you can identify a series, understand a security feature, read signatures and production codes, check a banknote’s status and follow decisions by the European Central Bank.
What you can find
The banknotes used every day have a history, a visual language and a precise production system. The site organises these subjects into clear routes:
| Area | What you can explore |
|---|---|
| History | The 2002 cash changeover, enlargement of the euro area and the main milestones up to the present day. |
| Series | The first series, Europa series and future-banknote proposals, with comparisons between their designs and denominations. |
| Security | The feel, look and tilt method and the visible features of both issued series. |
| Signatures and codes | ECB Presidents, serial numbers, printing works and production codes. |
| Legal tender | The status of the first series, the 500 euro note, withdrawal and the exchange of damaged banknotes. |
How to verify the information
Every article ends with the sources used. Dates, decisions, legal status and current procedures are drawn mainly from the ECB, the Eurosystem, national central banks, the European Union and EUR-Lex.
Specialist references add detail on signatures, printer codes, cataloguing and collector history. Sources and image credits also records the attribution of photographs and banknote reproductions used across the site.
Who curates Banknotes.eu
Banknotes.eu is curated by Gerardo Vendemia, a numismatist and author specialising in paper money. His professional work includes cataloguing, expert appraisal and publishing.
Cartamoneta.com provides technical and operational support for the publication of the site.
When to contact an institution or specialist
Banknotes.eu is not an official website of the European Central Bank, the Eurosystem, the European Union or a national central bank.
For operational information about validity, exchange or suspected banknotes, contact the relevant central bank or authority. Authentication and market valuation require the physical banknote to be examined by a qualified professional.
