100 euro note
Encyclopedia
The one hundred euro
(€100) note is one of the higher value euro banknotes
and has been used since the introduction of the euro
(in its cash form) in 2002. The hundred euro note is the third largest at 147 x 82mm with a green colour scheme. The architectural style depicted in the hundred euro note shows the Baroque
and Rococo
style. It is consequently used daily by some 332 million Europeans. The hundred euro banknote is used in the 22 countries which have it as their sole currency (with 20 legally adopting it) in Europe.
The changeover period during which the former currencies' notes and coins were exchanged for those of the euro lasted about two months, until 28 February 2002. The official date on which the national currencies ceased to be legal tender varied from member state to member state. The earliest date was in Germany, where the mark officially ceased to be legal tender on 31 December 2001, though the exchange period lasted for two months more. Even after the old currencies ceased to be legal tender, they continued to be accepted by national central banks for periods ranging from ten years to forever.
and the Austrian schilling
.
Legally, both the European Central Bank and the central banks of the eurozone
countries have the right to issue the 7 different euro banknotes. In practice, only the national central banks of the zone physically issue and withdraw euro banknotes. The European Central Bank does not have a cash office and is not involved in any cash operations.
, Wim Duisenberg
, who was replaced on 1 November 2003 by Jean-Claude Trichet
, whose signature appears on subsequent issues.
and Rococo
style (between the 17th and 18th century). Although Robert Kalina
's original designs were intended to show real monuments, for political reasons the bridge and art are merely hypothetical examples of the architectural era.
Like all euro notes, it contains the denomination, the EU flag, the signature of the president of the ECB
and the initials of said bank in different EU languages
, a depiction of EU territories overseas, the stars from the EU flag and twelve security features as listed below.
, that as a hobby keeps a track of the euro banknote that pass through them, so that they can keep a track and know where they travel or have traveled. The aim is to record as many notes as possible in order to know details about its spread, like from where and to which place they travel in general; follow it up, like where a banknote has been seen in particular; and generate statistics and rankings, for example, in which countries there are more banknotes. EuroBillTracker has registered over 96 million notes as of October 2011, worth more than €1.876 billion.
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
(€100) note is one of the higher value euro banknotes
Euro banknotes
Euro banknotes are the banknotes of the euro, the currency of the eurozone and have been in circulation since 2002. They are issued by the national central banks of the euro area or the European Central Bank...
and has been used since the introduction of the euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
(in its cash form) in 2002. The hundred euro note is the third largest at 147 x 82mm with a green colour scheme. The architectural style depicted in the hundred euro note shows the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
style. It is consequently used daily by some 332 million Europeans. The hundred euro banknote is used in the 22 countries which have it as their sole currency (with 20 legally adopting it) in Europe.
The changeover period during which the former currencies' notes and coins were exchanged for those of the euro lasted about two months, until 28 February 2002. The official date on which the national currencies ceased to be legal tender varied from member state to member state. The earliest date was in Germany, where the mark officially ceased to be legal tender on 31 December 2001, though the exchange period lasted for two months more. Even after the old currencies ceased to be legal tender, they continued to be accepted by national central banks for periods ranging from ten years to forever.
History
The euro was set up on 1 January 1999, when it became the currency of over 300 million people in Europe. For the first three years of its existence it was an invisible currency, only used in accountance. Euro banknotes and coins were not introduced until 1 January 2002, when it replaced the banknotes and coins of the eurozone 12, as it was then, national currencies like the Irish PoundIrish pound
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
and the Austrian schilling
Austrian schilling
The schilling was the currency of Austria from 1924 to 1938 and from 1945 to 1999, and the circulating currency until 2002. The euro was introduced at a fixed parity of €1 = 13.7603 schilling to replace it...
.
Legally, both the European Central Bank and the central banks of the eurozone
Eurozone
The eurozone , officially called the euro area, is an economic and monetary union of seventeen European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their common currency and sole legal tender...
countries have the right to issue the 7 different euro banknotes. In practice, only the national central banks of the zone physically issue and withdraw euro banknotes. The European Central Bank does not have a cash office and is not involved in any cash operations.
Changes
There has so far only been one series of euro notes, however a new series similar to the current one is to be issued from 2011. The initial issue of notes bears the signature of the first president of the European Central BankEuropean Central Bank
The European Central Bank is the institution of the European Union that administers the monetary policy of the 17 EU Eurozone member states. It is thus one of the world's most important central banks. The bank was established by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1998, and is headquartered in Frankfurt,...
, Wim Duisenberg
Wim Duisenberg
Willem Frederik "Wim" Duisenberg was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He was the first President of the European Central Bank from 1 July 1998 until 31 October 2003. He was instrumental in the Introduction of the euro in the European Union in 2002. He was also credited for making numerous...
, who was replaced on 1 November 2003 by Jean-Claude Trichet
Jean-Claude Trichet
Jean-Claude Trichet is a French civil servant who was the president of the European Central Bank, a position he held from 2003 to 2011. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements...
, whose signature appears on subsequent issues.
Design
The hundred euro note measures at 147 millimetres (5.8 in) × 82 millimetres (3.2 in) and has a green colour scheme. All bank notes depict bridges and arches/doorways in a different historical European style; the hundred euro note shows the BaroqueBaroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
style (between the 17th and 18th century). Although Robert Kalina
Robert Kalina
Robert Kalina from the National Bank of Austria created the T 382 design, which was the winning design of the 1996 competition for the art shown on the euro banknotes. Kalina's design was chosen by the EMI Council on 3 December 1996...
's original designs were intended to show real monuments, for political reasons the bridge and art are merely hypothetical examples of the architectural era.
Like all euro notes, it contains the denomination, the EU flag, the signature of the president of the ECB
European Central Bank
The European Central Bank is the institution of the European Union that administers the monetary policy of the 17 EU Eurozone member states. It is thus one of the world's most important central banks. The bank was established by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1998, and is headquartered in Frankfurt,...
and the initials of said bank in different EU languages
Languages of the European Union
The languages of the European Union are languages used by people within the member states of the European Union. They include the twenty-three official languages of the European Union along with a range of others...
, a depiction of EU territories overseas, the stars from the EU flag and twelve security features as listed below.
Security features
The hundred euro note is protected by:- A hologram, The hologram image change between the value and a window or doorway can be seen if the note is tilted, and rainbow-coloured concentric circles of micro-letters moving from the centre to the edges of the patch are seen in the background.
- A EURion constellationEURion constellationThe EURion constellation is a pattern of symbols found on a number of banknote designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help software detect the presence of a banknote in a digital image. Such software can then block the user from reproducing banknotes to prevent counterfeiting using...
, Special printing processes gives the note a unique feel. - A glossy stripe, If the note is tilted, a glossy stripe showing the value numeral and the euro symbol appears.
- WatermarkWatermarkA watermark is a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light , caused by thickness or density variations in the paper...
s, It appears when the note is hit against the light. - Microprinting, Sharp tiny text can be seen using a magnifying glass on numerous areas in the note, for example, inside "EYPΩ" (EURO in Greek characters) on the observe.
- Ultraviolet ink, Under ultraviolet light, the paper doesn't glow, however fibres embedded in the paper can be seen, and should be coloured red, blue and green. The EU lag appears green whereas the stars appears orange. Also the ECB President signature turns green, the large stars and small circles on the front glow and the European map, a bridge and the value numeral on the back appear in yellow.
- Raised printing, Due to special methods of printing, the ink can be felt raised or thicker in the main image, the lettering and the value numerals on the front of the banknote. The raised print can be felt on running fingers above it or scratching it gently by fingernail.
- A security thread, It is embedded in the banknote paper. If the banknote is hold against the light - the thread appears as a dark stripe. The word "EURO" and the value can be seen in tiny letters on the stripe.
- Matted surface, the note paper is made out of pure cotton, which feels crisp and firm, however counterfeit notes feels limp or waxy.
- Perforations, If the banknote is hold against the light, perforations can be seen in the hologram which forms the € symbol. Small numbers showing the value can be also seen.
- Barcodes,
- Serial number,
Circulation
As of September 2011, there are approximately 1,588,471,700 €100 banknotes in circulation around the Eurozone 17. That is approximately €158,847,166,700 worth of €100 banknotes (as of September 2011). The European Central Bank is closely monitoring the circulation and stock of the euro coins and banknotes. It is a task of the Eurosystem to ensure an efficient and smooth supply of euro notes and to maintain their integrity throughout the euro area.Tracking
There are several communities of people at European level, one of which is EuroBillTrackerEuroBillTracker
EuroBillTracker is a website designed for tracking euro banknotes. It was inspired by the U.S. currency tracking website Where's George?.- Characteristics :...
, that as a hobby keeps a track of the euro banknote that pass through them, so that they can keep a track and know where they travel or have traveled. The aim is to record as many notes as possible in order to know details about its spread, like from where and to which place they travel in general; follow it up, like where a banknote has been seen in particular; and generate statistics and rankings, for example, in which countries there are more banknotes. EuroBillTracker has registered over 96 million notes as of October 2011, worth more than €1.876 billion.