The Counterfeit Money Unit's task is to examine and store counterfeit money of any currency which is seized in Germany or confiscated by the police. We also check the authenticity of payment cards, securities, traveller's cheques and gold and silver coins which are legal tender. Another focal point of our work is to prevent the circulation of counterfeit money.

In the first half of 2025, the Bundesbank withdrew approximately 36,600 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of just under €2.1 million from circulation in Germany. The number of counterfeits rose by 8 % compared with the second half of 2024. However, the loss arising from counterfeiting remained unchanged.

Counterfeit banknote detectors range from magnifying glasses to UV lamps to electronic devices with built-in testers. When choosing what device to buy, it is usually advisable to give preference to devices which can check more than one banknote security feature.

Confidence in a currency is rooted in cash. In Germany, it is the Bundesbank’s task to provide an adequate supply of high-quality euro banknotes and coins at all times. The Bundesbank provides retailers and banks with cash, withdraws counterfeit money from circulation and replaces damaged coins and banknotes.

Fight against euro counterfeiting in North Macedonia and strengthening overall central banking business in Belarus are at the focus of the current twinning and twinning light projects.

As of 1 January 2015, Deutsche Bundesbank branches will accept lodgements of coins from retail customers free of charge only if they comply with the standards laid down in the guidelines for the packaging of coin rolls and if whole numbers of standard containers are submitted per denomination.

The Bundesbank plays a pivotal role in the cash cycle. It issues new banknotes and coins, as well as removing unfit banknotes and coins from circulation.

The denominations of euro banknotes embody the shared theme of "Ages and styles of Europe" and represent the architectural styles of seven periods of European cultural history. They have been legal tender in all of the participating European Union member states since 1 January 2002. In addition, the physical appearance of euro banknotes is identical throughout the euro area. The European Central Bank and the national central banks of the Eurosystem began rolling out a second series of euro banknotes in May 2013.

The following text provides an overview of the regulations regarding the reproduction of banknotes and coins.