The EU unveils the new €50 banknote

The European Central Bank has revealed the new €50 banknote. As with all new banknotes, this one features a portrait of the Greek goddess Europa and an expanded map of Europe, recognising that more countries have joined the EU since 2002, when the previous series of banknotes was released. It also has a list of new security features to protect against counterfeiting.

“It is part of our continued efforts to preserve the euro as a stable currency, a currency that 338 million people across the euro area rely on day by day,” said Yves Mersch, ECB executive board member, in an ECB press release.

The new €50 banknote will begin circulating on April 4, 2017. It is the most common banknote of them all, accounting for eight billion, or 45% of all euro banknotes. The new €50 banknote is the latest release of new euro banknotes. The €5 banknote was the first one and began circulating in 2013. It was followed by the €10 in 2014 and the €20 in 2015. The €100 and €200 banknotes will be released toward the end of 2018.
“The gradual launch of the new euro banknotes with new and enhanced features underlines the Eurosystem’s commitment to cash as a trusted and efficient means of payment,” Mersch said.

The new security features are designed to make it easy to determine the banknote’s validity, using the Feel, Look and Tilt method:

Feel the banknote: There are short raised lines on the edges of the banknotes.

Look at it toward the light: A watermark portrait of Europa appears together with the value of the banknote.

Tilt the banknote: The value of the banknote changes colours from emerald green to deep blue. The value of the banknote next to the portrait also changes colours.

The old banknotes of all denominations will continue to be in circulation for the foreseeable future. Click here for more information about the new euro banknotes.