Cash EURO. How to identify counterfeit euros.
Cash EURO. How to spot counterfeit euros
Cash EURO: BANKNOTES
Denomination: 500 euros Size: 160*82 mm
Color: Purple Architectural period: Art Nouveau of the 20th century
Denomination: 200 euros Size: 153*82 mm
Color: Yellow-brown Architectural period: Iron and Glass Architecture
Denomination: 100 euro Size: 147*82 mm
Color: Green Architectural period: Baroque and Rococo
Denomination: 50 euro Size: 140*77 mm
Color: Orange Architectural Period: Renaissance
Denomination: 20 euros Size: 133*72 mm
Color: Blue Architectural period: Gothic
Denomination: 10 euro Size: 127*67 mm
Color: Red Architectural period: Romanesque
Denomination: 5 euros Size: 120*62 mm
Color: Gray Architectural period: Classical
Distinctive features of euro banknotes.
How to identify counterfeit ones?
Euro banknotes represent the architectural styles of seven periods of European cultural history: Classical, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo, Steel and Glass, and Modern architecture. Certain architectural structural elements are highlighted: windows, gates, and bridges. Banknotes of different denominations have different colors and sizes. The higher the denomination, the larger the banknote.
The different sizes and primary colours of euro banknotes, as well as the contrasting colour denominations, make it possible to distinguish all banknotes and their corresponding values from each other at a glance. But in order to reliably analyse the authenticity of banknotes, it is always necessary to consider the entire set of features. Only by studying all the features in combination — print quality, paper quality and the outline of the relief print on the foil — can we with a high degree of success counterfeit banknotes, printed or copied. Most of the identification features are already known in principle from the German mark banknotes currently in circulation.
You can feel the paper and relief by touch, you can see the watermarks, the security thread and the writing visible when held up to the light. When the banknote is positioned differently, the holographic images on the foil become visible, as well as the colour change or mother-of-pearl stripes on the back of the banknote.
PRINT QUALITY
Like the Deutsche Mark banknotes, the Euro banknotes are also produced using different printing processes. The background of the banknote is printed using the indirect letterpress printing method, while the front of the banknote is printed using the intaglio printing method. Special color effects are created by using the lattice printing method.
Intaglio printing
Some elements of the front side of the banknote are printed using intaglio printing, a traditional technique in the field of security printing. The characteristic relief can be felt, for example, by touch in the main motif of the banknote and especially clearly in the copyright line (enhanced intaglio printing).
Intaglio printing — features for the visually impaired
To make it easier for visually impaired people to recognize the 200 and 500 euro banknotes (these banknotes are of the same height), these banknotes are provided with clearly tangible details with deeper embossing.
Ultraviolet fluorescent offset colours
Some details of the design of the front and back of the banknotes glow under ultraviolet light. The absolute precision of the transition of the fluorescent green and red colours of the European flag on the front of the banknote is particularly difficult to imitate. The features of euro banknotes that appear under ultraviolet light can be checked with the same devices that are still used today to check German mark banknotes (for example, in shopping centres).
Optically changing colour
On the back of high-denomination banknotes, from 50 to 500 euros, the number in the lower right corner, indicating the denomination of the banknote, is printed in a colour that changes depending on the viewing angle. The colour changes from purple to brownish-green as the banknote is positioned.
Mother-of-pearl (iriodine) stripe
On the back of low-denomination banknotes, from 5 to 20 euros, a golden-shiny mother-of-pearl stripe, also called the iriodine stripe, is visible when the banknote is held up to the light and the orientation of the banknote is changed. The spaces in the stripe reveal the euro symbol and the number indicating the banknote's denomination.
Writing visible when held up to light
The seemingly random elements of the print in the white field of the banknote are united when the banknote is held up to the light into a number indicating the banknote's denomination.
PAPER QUALITY
All the distinctive features of euro banknotes related to the quality of the paper, except for the fluorescent fibre under ultraviolet light, become visible when the banknote is held up to the light.
Watermarks, security thread
The watermarks are a component of the paper (cotton fibres are traditionally used to make paper for banknotes):
a watermark with a picture depicts the main motif in light grey tones;
The «wire» watermark is a high-contrast number indicating the denomination of the banknote and is significantly lighter than the surrounding print details;
The vertical stripes form a strip watermark, which is an automatically readable code.
The security thread, which is an integral part of the paper, allows you to read the name of the EURO currency in minifont and the number indicating the denomination of the banknote in microfont.
FOIL WITH HOLOGRAM
Special foil elements
High-denomination banknotes (starting from 50 euros) have special foil elements (called patches in English). Each element has a unique edge design. The main element is a hologram, on which an architectural motif and a number indicating the denomination of the banknote are visible alternately, depending on the viewing angle. In addition, the foil elements contain mini- and micro-fonts, and when held up to the light, the euro symbol is visible in the perforations on the foil.
Foil strip
The foil strips, which are only present on low-denomination banknotes (€20 and below), contain the same distinctive features as the special foil elements on high-denomination banknotes. However, the hologram here alternates between the euro symbol and the denomination number.
Machine-readable codes, secret features
The abundance of hidden characteristics of banknotes ensures their uninterrupted acceptance by counting machines and other banking devices. The process of issuing cash from ATMs will also proceed without complications, especially if we take into account that the production of ATMs was given the opportunity to install devices for euro banknotes in advance (since May 2000). Euro banknotes are provided with special, secret features that allow the central national banks of the countries of the European Monetary Union to automatically identify counterfeit banknotes using special banknote processing machines provided by the issuing banks.
Thus, counterfeiting banknotes is complicated not only by the variety of distinctive features of euro banknotes, but also by a special system that prevents copying: invisible details prevent the reproduction of euro banknotes by high-quality color copying machines and computer programs.
SUMMARY
No one can rule out the possibility of counterfeit euro banknotes appearing on the money market soon. But the high quality of the banknotes and the sum of the above-mentioned distinctive features allow us to expect that counterfeits will have a high barrier. It is important that these characteristics are not only known, but also actively used.
Cash EURO: COINS
Denomination: 2 euros
Diameter: 25.75 mm
Thickness: 1.95 mm
Weight: 8.50 grams
Color: white/yellow
Metal: copper-nickel, nickel alloys
Denomination: 1 euro
Diameter: 23.25 mm
Thickness: 2.125 mm
Weight: 7.50 grams
Color: white/yellow
Metal: copper-nickel, nickel alloys
Denomination: 50 cents
Diameter: 24.25 mm
Thickness: 1.88 mm
Weight: 7.80 grams
Color: yellow
Metal: Scandinavian gold
Denomination: 20 cents
Diameter: 22.25 mm
Thickness: 1.63 mm
Weight: 5.74 grams
Color: yellow
Metal: Scandinavian gold
Denomination: 10 cents
Diameter: 19.75 mm
Thickness: 1.51 mm
Weight: 4.10 grams
Color: yellow
Metal: Scandinavian gold
Denomination: 5 cents
Diameter: 21.25 mm
Thickness: 1.36 mm
Weight: 3.92 gram
Color: red
Metal: copper-plated steel
Denomination: 2 cents
Diameter: 18.75 mm
Thickness: 1.36 mm
Weight: 3.06 grams
Color: red
Metal: copper-plated steel
Denomination: 1 cent
Diameter: 16.25 mm
Thickness: 1.36 mm
Weight: 2.30 grams
Color: red
Metal: copper-plated steel