Euro-Banknotes

Authentication

Several security features have been incorporated into the euro banknotes so that, upon careful examination, the authenticity of the banknotes can be reliably determined.

1. Feel
   Feel the raised print the special printing process gives the banknotes their unique feel. The initials of the European Central Bank, the value numerals and the motifs of windows and gateways will feel embossed to the touch. Be aware that through wear and tear some of these properties can be deteriorated.
2. Look
   Look at the banknote and hold it up to the light: the watermark, the security thread and the see-through register will then be visible. All three features can be seen from the front and the reverse side of genuine banknotes.
3. Tilt
   Tilt the banknote: on the front of the banknote, you can see the shifting image on the hologram foil stripe (on low-value banknotes, ie €5, €10 and €20) or the hologram foil patch (on high-value banknotes, ie €50, €100, €200 and €500). On the reverse side, if you tilt the banknote, you can see the brilliance of the iridescent stripe (on the low-value banknotes) or the colour-shifting optically variable ink (on the high-value banknotes).
4. Check
   Check all the security features described above to ensure the banknote's authenticity.

Security features

The security features contained in euro banknotes include

Intaglio printing

Intaglio printing is used to apply a tactile relief to the front side of the banknotes; the abbreviations of the European Central Bank in the various national languages (BCE, ECB, EZB, EKT, EKP), the value numeral and the pictures of the windows and gateways are identifiable by touch. At the edge on the front of the €200 and €500 notes grids of parallel tactile lines have been printed to make it easier for the visually impaired to recognise the banknotes. The euro banknotes are also printed on special paper with a distinctive surface texture. Be aware that through wear and tear some of these properties can be deteriorated.

Watermark

If a banknote is held up to the light, the watermark appears on both sides of the non-printed area. Both the predominant architectural motif (multitone watermark) and the value numeral (electrotype watermark) can be seen. The watermark is generated by varying the paper thickness as the paper is being manufactured. This can be seen in several areas, some of which are lighter and others darker than the surrounding paper.

Security thread

The euro banknotes contain a security thread which is embedded into the paper near the middle of the note and is visible when held up to the light.

A dark line runs from top to bottom of the banknote.

If one looks more closely at the thread against the light, the word EURO and the value numeral (alternatively readable and mirrored) appear.

See-through register

The see-through register is a feature found in the upper left-hand corner on the front of the banknote. Irregular shapes printed on the front and back of the euro banknotes form a complete value numeral when held up to the light.

Foil stripe (€5, €10, €20) or foil patch (€50, €100, €200, €500), both showing holographic effects
Different foil elements are used on the low-value and high-value banknotes.

A foil stripe can be found on the front right-hand side of the low-value banknotes (€5, €10 and €20). When the banknote is tilted, either the euro symbol or the value numeral - depending on the viewing angle - appears as a hologram with shifting colours.

A foil patch can be found on the front right-hand side of the high-value banknotes (€50, €100, €200 and €500). When these banknotes are tilted, either the value numeral or the architectural motif - depending on the viewing angle - appears as a hologram with shifting colours.
When held up to the light, a closer look at the foil stripe as well as the foil patch reveals a euro symbol generated by transparent dots in the foil metallisation.

• Foil stripe movie | MPEG Format | 500 KB
• Foil patch movie | MPEG Format | 400 KB

Iridescent stripe / Optically variable ink

In addition to the hologram foils, there is a second difference between the low-value and the high-value euro banknotes. If you look at the reverse of the €5, €10 and €20 banknotes, you will see an iridescent stripe next to the security thread. The stripe varies in colour from light yellow to gold yellow when the note is tilted and also reveals the euro symbol and value numeral (5, 10 or 20).

The €50, €100, €200 and €500 banknotes contain an optically variable colour element. Depending on the viewing angle, the value numeral in the lower right-hand corner on the reverse of these four notes changes colour from reddish-purple to olive-green or brown.

• Iridescent stripe movie | MPEG Format | 250 KB
• Optically-variable colour movie | MPEG Format | 1,3 MB

Microprinting

Under a magnifying glass you can see tiny printing on some areas of the banknote. The texts are perfectly legible; however, some of them do differ in size. For example, 0.8 mm sized print can, in the majority of cases, be read by the naked eye. The 0.2 mm micro printing, on the other hand, simply appears as a thin line to the naked eye, but itcan be read with the aid of a magnifying glass. The smallest print on an authentic banknote should be sharp and not blurred.

Ultra-violet properties (fibres and ink)

Check the following characteristics under ultraviolet light

1. The banknote paper does not become fluorescent, ie it emits no light and is “UV dull”.
2. The fluorescent fibres embedded in the paper are visible either in red, green or blue colour.
3. On the front of the banknote, the blue ink of the European flag and the signature of the ECB President becomes green under ultra-violet light, the yellow stars become orange.
4. On the reverse side, the map of Europe, the bridge and the denomination appear in yellow under ultra-violet light.

Infra-red properties

With an infrared viewer, you can see the right part of the intaglio pattern as well as the foil stripe.