50 euro note
Encyclopedia
The fifty euro
note (€50) is one of the middle value euro banknotes
and has been used since the introduction of the euro (in its cash form) in 2002.
The note is used daily by some 332 million Europeans and in the 22 countries which have it as their sole currency (with 20 legally adopting it).
It is the fourth smallest note measuring 140x77mm and has an orange colour scheme. The fifty euro bank notes depict bridges and arches/doorways in the Renaissance era
(between the 15th and 16th century).
The fifty euro note contains several complex security features such as watermarks, invisible ink, holograms and microprinting that document its authenticity. In September 2011, there were approximately 5,699,719,400 fifty euro banknotes in circulation in the Eurozone 17.
countries have the legal right to issue the 7 different euro banknotes. However, 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.
and the Austrian schilling
.
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.
The note bears the signature of the first president of the European Central Bank
, Wim Duisenberg
, who was replaced on 1 November 2003 by Jean-Claude Trichet
, whose signature appears on subsequent issues. Until now there has been only one series of euro notes, however a new series, similar to the current one, is planned to be released in 2011.
(between the 15th and 16th century). Although Robert Kalina
's original designs were intended to show real monuments, for political reasons the bridge and the window 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
, the initials of said bank in the different EU languages
, a depiction of EU territories overseas, the stars from the EU flag and various security features.
, which track the euro banknotes as they pass through their hands, to record their numbers and monitor their travel. Their aim is to record is to ascertain details about its spread and to generate statistics and rankings for various notes. EuroBillTracker had registered over 96 million notes as of October 2011.
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,...
note (€50) is one of the middle 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 (in its cash form) in 2002.
The note is used daily by some 332 million Europeans and in the 22 countries which have it as their sole currency (with 20 legally adopting it).
It is the fourth smallest note measuring 140x77mm and has an orange colour scheme. The fifty euro bank notes depict bridges and arches/doorways in the Renaissance era
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
(between the 15th and 16th century).
The fifty euro note contains several complex security features such as watermarks, invisible ink, holograms and microprinting that document its authenticity. In September 2011, there were approximately 5,699,719,400 fifty euro banknotes in circulation in the Eurozone 17.
Background
The fifty euro note is used daily by some 332 million Europeans and in the 22 countries which have it as their sole currency (with 20 legally adopting it).Both the European Central Bank and the central banks of the eurozoneEurozone
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 legal right to issue the 7 different euro banknotes. However, 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.
History
The euro was founded 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 cash was not introduced until 1 January 2002, when it replaced the national banknotes and coins of the countries in eurozone 12, such as 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...
.
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.
The note bears the signature of the first president of the European Central Bank
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,...
, 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. Until now there has been only one series of euro notes, however a new series, similar to the current one, is planned to be released in 2011.
Design
The fifty euro note is the fourth smallest note measuring 140x77mm with an orange colour scheme. All bank notes depict bridges and arches/doorways in a different historical European style; the fifty euro note shows the Renaissance eraRenaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
(between the 15th and 16th 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 the window 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,...
, the initials of said bank in the 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 various security features.
Security features
The fifty euro note contains the following security features:- Colour changing inkOptically Variable InkOptically variable ink is an anti-counterfeiting measure used on many major modern banknotes.The ink displays two distinct colors depending on the angle the bill is viewed at. The United States fifty-dollar bill, for example, uses color shifting ink for the numeral 50 so that it displays copper at...
used on the numeral located on the back of the note, that appears to change colour from purple to brown, when the note is tilted. - A see through number printed in the top corner of the note, on both sides, appear combine perfectly to form the value numeral when held against the light.
- A hologramSecurity hologramSecurity holograms are very difficult to forge because they are replicated from a master hologram which requires expensive, specialized and technologically advanced equipment. They are used widely in several banknotes around the world, in particular those that are of high denominations...
, used on the note which appears to see the hologram image change between the value and a window or doorway, but in the background, it appears to be rainbow-coloured concentric circles of micro-letters moving from the centre to the edges of the patch. - 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...
; the 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. - A glossy stripe, situated at the back of the note, showing the value numeral and the euro symbol.
- 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, which appear when held up to the light. - Raised printing in the main image, the lettering and the value numerals on the front of the banknotes will be raised.
- Ultraviolet ink; the paper itself does not glow, fibres embedded in the paper do appear, and be coloured red, blue and green, the EU flag is green and has orange stars, the ECB President's, currently Jean-Claude TrichetJean-Claude TrichetJean-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...
's, 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. - MicroprintingMicroprintingMicroprinting is one of many anti-counterfeiting techniques used most often on currency and bank checks, as well as various other items of value. Microprinting involves printing very small text, usually too small to read with the naked eye, onto the note or item. Microprint is frequently hidden in...
, on various areas of the banknotes there is microprinting, for example, inside the "EYPΩ" (EURO in Greek characters) on the front. The micro-text is sharp, but not blurred. - A security thread, embedded in the banknote paper. The thread will appear as a dark stripe when held up to the light. The word "EURO" and the value is embedded in tiny letters on the thread.
- Perforations in the hologram which will form the euro symbol. There are also small numbers showing the value.
- A matted surface; the note paper is made out of pure cotton, which feels crisp and firm, but not limp or waxy.
- Barcodes,
- A serial number.
Circulation
As of September 2011, there are approximately 5,699,719,400 €50 banknotes in circulation around the Eurozone 17. The 50 euro note is the most commonly used banknote. The total value of the notes in circulation is approximately €284,985,969,600 (as of September 2011). The European Central Bank monitors the circulation and stock of the euro coins and banknotes. The Eurosystem has been tasked with ensuring an efficient and smooth supply of euro notes.Tracking
There are several communities of hobbyists, such as EuroBillTrackerEuroBillTracker
EuroBillTracker is a website designed for tracking euro banknotes. It was inspired by the U.S. currency tracking website Where's George?.- Characteristics :...
, which track the euro banknotes as they pass through their hands, to record their numbers and monitor their travel. Their aim is to record is to ascertain details about its spread and to generate statistics and rankings for various notes. EuroBillTracker had registered over 96 million notes as of October 2011.