The euro (sign: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of the euro zone which consist of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Cyprus, France, Germany, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and Slovakia. The euro is the second most traded currency in the world after the U.S. dollar, making it one of the world’s most important currencies and one of the EU’s greatest achievements. This currency was officially adopted on 16 December 1995 and introduced to the global financial markets as an accounting currency on 1 January 1999. Euro coins and banknotes were put into circulation on 1 January 2002. The euro is divided into 100 cents. All circulating coins show the denomination and a map in the background and the euro banknotes have common designs on both sides. Below are pictures of the Euro both in coin and note format.
The euro (sign: €; code: EUR)
Euro Notes
Notes are issued in €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, and €5. The banknotes increase in size as the denomination rises. The European Monetary Institute had decided the designs for euro notes in 1996 after EU-wide design competition with theme “Ages and Styles of Europe”. The design of euro notes depicts the artistic period of European architecture and emphasizes three main architectural elements including bridges, gateways, and windows. On the front face of each banknote, the design of windows and gateways symbolizes the spirits of co-operation and openness and the reverses face shows a bridge which is typical for the respective age of European development.
The five hundred euro note is the highest-value euro banknote. It shows modern architecture (between the twentieth and twenty-first century CE).
The two hundred euro, second highest value euro banknotes, shows the Art Nouveau era
The €20 has a gothic design.
The design of banknotes emphasizes three main architectural elements including bridges, gateways, and windows.
The fifty euro note shows the Renaissance era.
The hundred euro note depicts the Baroque / Rococo style.
The euro banknotes have common designs on both sides with windows or gateways on the front of the note and bridges on the back.
Euro coins
Euro coins have a common face and a national face. The designs for common face show Europe situated in the world on the three coins (1, 2 and 5 cent) and Europe as a collection of nations on the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins while the national face show 12 stars of the EU flag and the year and national symbols.
The coins are issued in €2, €1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, and 1c denominations.
The Irish government decided on a single national design for all Irish coin denominations. They are decorated with the year of issue and the word “Eire” and the Celtic harp.
The Finnish 2 euro coin shows cloudberry and the golden berry of northern Finland.
The Dutch euro coin has two designs, both of which feature a portrait of effigy of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
Related links:
Quarterly Sterling/Euro Currency Review
Forex Trading – Currency Profile Of The Euro
Euro Currency – the Bull Trend is Dead and a Big Profit Opportunity 700 Pips or More!
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