The 18 countries that use the euro currency have a new 10-euro note, which the European Central Bank says has enhanced security features that will make it harder to counterfeit.
The new note introduced Tuesday is the second in the bank's "Europa" series, featuring a portrait of the figure from Greek mythology of that name in both the watermark and hologram stripe.
The first of the new notes, the five-euro bill, was introduced last year and the rest are to be phased in over the coming years. They replace the notes in circulation since euros became the cash currency in 2002.
In addition to the watermark and portrait hologram, the new note has an added security feature with an emerald number which shines when moved up and down.
The €10 banknote of the Europa series will enter into circulation on 23 September 2014, the Central Bank of Malta said. “It’s essential that everyone who uses euro banknotes can continue to do so with complete confidence. That’s why we’re introducing the Europa series”, said Yves Mersch, the ECB’s Executive Board member responsible for banknotes.
Like the new €5, the new €10 has several enhanced security features as well as a fresh look. Its hologram and watermark include a portrait of Europa, a figure from Greek mythology. It also has an “emerald number”. When tilted, the shiny number displays an effect of the light that moves up and down, and also changes colour from emerald green to deep blue. With these features and others, the new €10 is very easy to check using the “feel, look and tilt” method.
To facilitate the introduction of the new banknote and to ensure it is as widely recognised as possible, the Eurosystem has taken many measures to further support the producers and owners of banknote handling machines and authentication devices. One initiative was to make new €10 banknotes available for testing purposes almost nine months ahead of the launch, allowing sufficient time for the equipment to be adapted. Another initiative was to simplify the procedures to receive the new €10 banknotes for adaptation purposes. In addition, the Eurosystem organised – as part of the Eurosystem Partnership Programme – a banknote-related seminar in Brussels, while the national central banks were in direct contact with the relevant stakeholders in their country.
The European Central Bank has received confirmation from the national central banks of the euro area that they have done everything that could be reasonably expected within their capacity to facilitate the adaptation of banknote handling machines and authentication devices in their countries for the new note.
“To make the launch of the new €10 go as smoothly as possible, I urge all those owning banknote equipment to make sure that it can handle the new banknotes,” Mr Mersch said.
The €10 banknotes of the first series will continue to be issued in order to use up stocks. They will circulate alongside the Europa series €10 before being phased out later on and eventually ceasing to be legal tender. This change in their status will be announced well in advance.
A video entitled “Discover the new €10 banknote”, available at www.new-euro-banknotes.eu in 23 European Union languages, provides further information on the new note and how to check it. It is one of several cash-related videos on the website, which also offers other ways of learning about the banknotes, such as the “Euro Cash Academy”.