The euro plays a big role in all of our lives – we need money to eat, buy clothes, take holidays, and for many other reasons. And later in life we need it to rent or buy a house and run our cars. Indeed, during one person’s lifetime they will use many thousands of euros in total. Because the euro plays such an important role, it is useful for us to know a bit more about it
DID YOU KNOW?
Which are the participating countries?
Today, the euro is the world’s most powerful currency, used by 320 million Europeans in 15 countries: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Finland. Malta and Cyprus joined the euro area on 1 January.
Whose signature is on the banknotes?
Euro banknotes bear the signature of Willem F. Duisenberg, the first President of the European Central Bank or of Jean-Claude Trichet, who succeeded him on 1 November 2003. Banknotes with one signature or the other are equally valid.
Who designed the banknotes?
An Austrian artist, Robert Kalina. His designs are based on the theme “Ages and styles of Europe”. They represent the architectural styles of seven periods in Europe’s cultural history: the Classical period is depicted on the e5 banknote, the Romanesque period on the e10, the Gothic period on the e20, the Renaissance on the e50 and baroque and rococo on the e100, while the age of iron and glass architecture appears on the e200 banknote and modern 20th century architecture on the e500. Windows and gateways are the main features on the front of the banknotes, and bridges on the back. The illustrations are of typical examples of architecture of each period rather than of particular buildings.
Why is the word Euro written in both Greek and Latin letters?
The name of the currency appears in both Latin (EURO) and Greek letters (EYPW) because both alphabets are used in the European Union.
Why are the banknotes easy to use for blind and partially sighted people?
They are very user-friendly for blind and partially sighted people for various reasons. Each of the seven banknote denominations has a different size. The large, highly legible numbers (that is, the value numerals) on the front of the banknotes are raised slightly above the surface of the paper and can be identified by touch. Tactile marks are included on the bottom edge of the e200 banknote and on the right-hand edge of the e500. Each banknote has its own predominant colour (for example, blue for the e20). Strongly contrasting colours have been chosen for “neigbouring” denominations (for example, red for the e10 banknote, blue for the e20).
The European Blind Union was consulted from the start of the design phase of the banknotes (1995).
Do the bridges on the back of the banknotes actually exist?
No, they don’t – they merely exemplify an architectural style or a period in European history. If a real bridge were to be shown, then that particular banknote would be associated with the country where the bridge is located. Bridges like those in the illustrations exist in many parts of Europe. The windows and gateways shown on the banknotes are also stylised illustrations.
http://www.ecb.int/bc/euro/banknotes/
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