Euro official name. See what the "Euro Symbol" is in other dictionaries. The history of the appearance of the symbol of the Russian ruble
Euro(English Euro) - the official currency of 19 countries of the Eurozone (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Estonia). Euro is also the national currency of 9 more states, 7 of which are located in Europe. However, unlike the members of the eurozone, these countries cannot influence the monetary policy of the European Central Bank and send their representatives to its governing bodies. Thus, the euro is the single currency for more than 340 million Europeans. As of November 2013, there were 951 billion euros in cash circulation, making this currency the holder of the highest total value of cash circulating worldwide, ahead of the US dollar in this indicator.
1 euro is equal to 100 cents (or eurocents). Banknote denominations in circulation: 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros. Coins: 2 and 1 euro, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. The name of the currency comes from the word "Europe".
Eurocurrency is printed by central banks that are members of the European System of Central Banks. All issued banknotes have one standard design. On the front side, windows, gates, bridges are depicted as symbols of openness and interconnection. They are made in the form of typical examples of the main styles of European architecture: classical, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo, "metal and glass", Art Nouveau. At the same time, euro banknotes differ in color palette: 500 - purple, 200 - yellow, 100 - green, 50 - orange, 20 - blue, 10 red, and 5 - gray.
Unlike banknotes, the coins have only the front side in common, on which the denomination is placed against the background of the symbolic map of Europe. The reverse side is considered "national" - each issuing central bank has its own for each denomination.
Despite the fact that officially non-cash euros were introduced on January 1, 1999, and cash was issued on January 1, 2002, the history of the single European currency is older. Before the euro appeared, from 1979 to 1998, the European currency system used the ECU unit of account (ECU, European Currency Unit), which was a conditional basket of national monetary units of a number of countries. Subsequently, the ECU was exchanged for the euro at a one-to-one rate.
Officially, trading in the euro on the international currency market began on January 4, 1999. In order to save investors from currency risks, the quotes of national currencies were fixed. Thus, the exchange rate of the German mark was 1.95583 per euro, the French franc - 6.55957, and the Italian lira - 1,936.21. At the same time, the initial exchange rate of the euro against the dollar was determined at about $1.17.
Illustration: European Central Bank
During 1999, the euro quotes steadily declined, eventually reaching the so-called parity - equality of 1 euro and 1 dollar. At the end of September 2000, the European Central Bank, the US Federal Reserve System, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England and a number of European banks conducted a joint intervention in support of the single euro currency. Nevertheless, this did not prevent her from reaching an absolute historical minimum, which amounted to 0.8230 dollars per euro in October 2000.
It was recognized that a further decline in the quotations of the single currency could hurt the European economy. At the same time, by the end of 2000, the US Federal Reserve, in order to cope with the upcoming recession, took a course on easing monetary policy, cutting, in particular, the discount rate to 2%. Since interest rates in Europe turned out to be higher, the euro became more attractive for investment than the dollar. In addition, in 2001, the US economy experienced a shock caused by the September 11 terrorist attacks. By the end of the year, the euro was trading at 0.96 per dollar, and by July 2002 it returned to parity again. It finally became more expensive than the dollar after December 6 of the same year. And in 2003, it began to grow steadily in price against the backdrop of the US entry into the war in Iraq.
Its initial value of 1.1736, fixed on the first trading day, the rate reached on May 23, 2003, and the absolute maximum - 1.5990 - in 2008. This became possible due to the global financial crisis, which this time originated in the financial system of the United States. Economists believe that the strengthening of the euro was due mainly to the weakness of the US economy, and not to the strength of the European one. This assumption is also supported by the fact that the aggravation of problems in the eurozone subsequently led to a halt in the growth of currency quotes. For the summer of 2011, the euro exchange rate fluctuates between 1.41-1.45 dollars.
Nevertheless, during its existence, the euro confidently took the second place in the world in terms of government reserves. This is due to the fact that, in total, the gross domestic product of the countries included in the eurozone exceeds even the US GDP, which ranks first in the world.
The euro/dollar currency pair is the most traded in the Forex and financial derivatives market - futures. Today, Europe represents a real alternative to the United States in terms of investment opportunities. At the same time, the choice of investors is influenced primarily by a comparison of macroeconomic indicators of the two regions, such as the inflation rate, prevailing interest rates, GDP, trade balance, etc.
At the same time, the biggest problem of the euro area remains the difference in the level of the economies of the member countries. The strongest are Germany, Italy, France. To those experiencing difficulties - Greece, Ireland and a number of others.
For Russian investors, the euro is traditionally interesting as an alternative to the US dollar. The European currency is used to diversify the risks associated with exchange rates, and as an independent direction of investment - in times of rising quotes.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that it is more profitable to make payments in countries participating in the euro area using debit or credit cards in this particular currency in order to avoid unnecessary conversion.
The symbol of the new euro currency was first introduced to the world community on December 12, 1996. A year earlier, the Council of Europe approved the final version of the name of the new currency Euro (EURO).The history of the appearance of the Euro symbol
If you think that the idea of the Euro came to the minds of European officials relatively recently in the 90s of the 20th century, then you are greatly mistaken. Indeed, back in the 40s of the last century, many politicians thought about creating common banknotes. They believed that a common currency for all European states would serve as a guarantor of peaceful life on the continent. At that time, it was assumed that common political, social and financial relationships could save Europe from mutual conflicts.Such high hopes that most politicians and even ordinary citizens placed on a single currency required a special graphic style of the symbol. The Europeans approached this matter with all the thoroughness and seriousness and did not begin to chop off their shoulders, so a special competition was formed in which there were several rounds.
Of course, when it comes to banknotes, one cannot do without mysterious cases and mystery. For example, the person who developed the Euro symbol was never presented to the public. Inquisitive journalists could only find out that exactly thirty authors took part in the competition and one of them turned out to be the winner. There are several versions concerning the creator of the Euro sign. Some of the researchers claim that this person's name is Arthur Eisenmenger, who was the leader in the project to create the flag of the European Union. Others claim that it was invented by a man named Robert Kalina who is the chief designer of the Central Bank of Austria. Still others tend to believe that the author is not alone, that this symbol was created by a multinational development team.
Interestingly, the European Commission still keeps its mouth shut. Therefore, the whole world knows the designer of the Euro banknote, but not the € symbol itself.
Read more: What does an exclamation mark mean?
The official description of the graphic sign, which was prepared by the EU Commission, describes the symbol as a combination of several elements:
parallel lines crossing the symbol indicate the stability of the currency;
The letter E is a representation of the European Union;
The Greek letter epsilon is a reference to the cradle of all Europeans - Ancient Greece.
In addition to the official interpretation, all sorts of discrepancies and various theories appear like mushrooms after the rain. For example, if the creator of the € sign is Arthur Eisenmenger, then we can make the assumption that the first letter of his last name was not missing here. Moreover, two lines parallel to each other that cross the letter "C" resemble the letter " There is"from the alphabet of the ancient Slavic tribes.
It should be understood that graphic image € causes some inconvenience, since this symbol is more of a logo, and not a sign, as such, created with the help of professional designers who applied their visual identification skills. This means that it should look the same in any font and in all existing encodings. There is a sample of the Euro sign, which has its own clear parameters. However, on the Internet you can find a variety of versions of the spelling of this symbol.
Euro- the official currency of nineteen countries that are members of the European Union, and the national currency of six more European countries (see the list of countries where the euro is used, see below). The symbol for the euro is a round letter "E" with one or two lines crossing it horizontally: €.
1 euro is made up of 100 cents, or eurocents. In circulation there are banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Coins in circulation: 1 and 2 euros, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.
The roots of the euro go back to the economic crisis of the 1970s. Because of this crisis, the first plans arose to create a single currency, which was subsequently replaced by the euro. There were various reasons for the creation of the euro currency: concerns about the stability of the dollar, especially against the backdrop of a deteriorating US economy; strengthening the integration of European states; increased price competition in the Eurozone; other. Read more about the history of the euro below in the relevant section.
Today, the euro is not only a world currency, but also one of the global reserve currencies (the second largest). Central banks in many countries around the world diversify their reserves and hold them in US dollars, Japanese yens, and also in euros. The Euro today is the second most exchanged currency in the world, after the US dollar. In 2014, almost a trillion euros were in circulation.
Euro exchange rate
In the currency converter you can see the exchange rate of the euro against the ruble and against the dollar today.
History of the euro, history of the euro currency
For the first time, the euro was introduced as an accounting currency January 1, 1999. The history of the euro is closely connected with the adoption of the Maastricht Treaty ("Treaty on European Union").
The history of the euro currency dates back to the time when the member states of the European Union began to accept the euro as their national currency. At the beginning of its history, the euro was used only as an electronic currency, as a cash currency, the euro was accepted only January 1, 2002. At the time of the introduction of the euro as a cash currency, it began to be used immediately in 12 European countries. Subsequently, many other European countries adopted the euro (see below for a list of countries using the euro).
Former currencies of European countries in the history of the euro
Many European currencies (German mark, French franc, Italian lira, and others) ceased to exist by July 1, 2002. This date is important in the history of the euro, it is considered the beginning of centralized monetary policy. With the introduction of the euro, the European Central Bank began to implement monetary policy in countries using the single euro currency.
Attempts to create a single currency have been made for a long time. Back in 1979, the European Monetary System was introduced, which was in effect until December 31, 1998, until the creation of the euro. This system used a unit of European currency (ECU, from the English. ECU - European Currency Unit).
Purpose of the euro
The euro currency was introduced with the aim of creating a more stable European economy, which can be said to have been achieved - economic growth throughout Europe has grown since the adoption of the euro, and the various financial markets of Europe have become more integrated with each other. In addition, the euro currency has strengthened the European presence in the global economy due to the fact that it is a reserve currency. Also, the introduction of the euro made it possible to mitigate the volatility of the exchange rate between different European states.
Problems and difficulties in the history of the euro
Since the adoption of the euro, some difficulties have sometimes arisen. While the euro has improved stability across the region, all governments have to maintain roughly the same interest rate to avoid interest arbitrage. This circumstance led to difficulties in some economies of the EU countries, in particular, in Germany. Due to the introduction of the euro, it is no longer possible to use the interest rate as an instrument of fiscal policy. If the growth of a country's economy slows down, the government of that country will not be able to lower the interest rate to stimulate growth.
Euro in different countries, in which countries is the euro
The euro is one of the most powerful currencies in the world today. The currency is used by nearly 340 million Europeans in twenty-four European countries (nineteen of which are in the European Union). The euro is also used in some non-European countries.
In which countries is the euro
The countries that use the euro currency are listed below. The euro is also used in certain overseas territories and possessions of European countries not listed below. In addition, over 200 million people around the world use currencies pegged to the euro.
Countries marked in bold in the list are members of the European Union.
| The country | Year of adoption of the euro | Currency previously used |
| Austria | 1999 | Austrian shilling |
| Andorra | 2012 | Did not have an official currency; french franc and peseta used |
| Belgium | 1999 | Belgian franc |
| Vatican | 2002 | Vatican lira |
| Germany | 1999 | deutsche mark |
| Greece | 2001 | Greek drachma |
| Ireland | 1999 | Irish pound |
| Spain | 1999 | Peseta |
| Italy | 1999 | Italian lira |
| Cyprus | 2008 | Cypriot pound |
| Kosovo | 2002 | Yugoslav dinar, German mark, US dollar, Swiss franc |
| Latvia | 2014 | Latvian lats |
| Lithuania | 2015 | Lithuanian litas |
| Luxembourg | 1999 | Luxembourgish franc |
| Malta | 2008 | Maltese lira |
| Monaco | 2002 | Monegasque franc |
| Netherlands | 1999 | Dutch guilder |
| Portugal | 1999 | Portuguese escudo |
| San Marino | 2002 | Sanmarine lira |
| Slovakia | 2009 | Slovak koruna |
| Slovenia | 2007 | Slovenian Tolar |
| Finland | 1999 | Finnish stamp |
| France | 1999 | French franc |
| Montenegro | 2002 | Did not have an official currency; German mark was used |
| Estonia | 2011 | Estonian kroon |
Euro banknotes with photo, euro banknotes, euro banknotes with photo
Below are all possible euro banknotes with a photo. Both front and back sides of banknotes are presented.
| Number of euros | Front side | Back side |
| 5 euro |  |
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| 10 euro |  |
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| 20 euro |  |
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| 50 euro |  |
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| 100 euro |  |
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| 200 euros |  |
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| 500 Euro |  |
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Euro coins, euro coins with photo, euro coins
All issued euro coins are listed below with a photo. Different countries produce different euro coins, below are photos of euro coins of all countries where they are issued (members of the European Union).
Austria. Coins of Austria
Andorra. Coins of Andorra
Belgium. Coins of Belgium
Vatican. Coins of the Vatican
Germany. Coins of Germany
Greece. Coins of Greece
Ireland. Coins of Ireland
Spain. Coins of Spain
Italy. Coins of Italy
Cyprus. Coins of Cyprus
Latvia. Coins of Latvia
Lithuania. Coins of Lithuania
Luxembourg. Coins of Luxembourg
Malta. Coins of Malta
Monaco. Coins of Monaco
Netherlands. Coins of the Netherlands
Portugal. Coins of Portugal
San Marino. Coins of San Marino
Slovakia. Coins of Slovakia
Slovenia. Coins of Slovenia
Finland. Coins of Finland
France. Coins of France
The euro was introduced to the world financial markets as a settlement currency in 1999, and on January 1, 2002, banknotes and coins were introduced into cash circulation. The Euro replaced the European Currency Unit (ECU), which was used in the European Monetary System from 1979 to 1998, at a ratio of 1:1.
The Euro is governed and administered by the European Central Bank (ECB), based in Frankfurt, and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), which consists of the central banks of the eurozone member countries. The ECB is an independent central bank and has the exclusive right to determine monetary policy in the eurozone. The ESCB is engaged in printing banknotes and minting coins, distributing cash among the countries of the eurozone, and also ensures the functioning of payment systems in the eurozone.
Euro banknotes and coins
There are seven denominations of euro banknotes - 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. Banknotes are made in the same style, but depending on the denomination they differ in colors and sizes. The front side of the banknotes depicts windows and gates, which are a symbol of openness and the European spirit of cooperation. On the reverse side of the banknotes, bridges are depicted, symbolizing open communication. By January 1, 2002, 14.5 billion banknotes had been printed.
The design of the banknotes was developed by Robert Kalina and was selected from among 44 entries on December 3, 1996 by a council of the European Monetary Institute.
Each banknote has its own size and color. Each banknote has the flag of the European Union, the abbreviation "ECB" in five languages (BCE, ECB, EZB, EKT, EKP), a map of Europe, the name of the currency "euro" in Latin and Greek ("ΕΥΡΩ") transcriptions, the signature of the current president of the ECB. Additionally, 12 stars of the EU flag are depicted. The banknotes also depict examples of European architecture of various styles and periods of history. On the front side of the banknotes, windows and gates are depicted, on the back - bridges. The images are schematic illustrations and not representations of existing structures. Banknotes of different denominations have different colors and sizes. The higher the face value, the larger the banknote in size.
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5 euro banknote. Size: 120×62 mm Main color: gray |
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10 euro banknote. Size: 127×67mm Main color: red |
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20 euro banknote. Size: 133×72mm Main color: blue |
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50 euro banknote. Size: 140×77 mm Main color: orange |
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100 euro banknote. Size: 147×82mm Main color: green |
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200 euro banknote. Size: 153×82mm Main color: yellow |
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500 euro banknote. Size: 160×82mm Main Color: Purple |
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The coin range includes coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents (1 euro = 100 euro cents), as well as 1 and 2 euros.
On the front side (obverse) of each of the coins, a drawing is minted that displays certain features of a particular state.
On the reverse side (reverse) of the coins, one of the three patterns common to all countries depicting the contours of Europe surrounded by 12 stars of the European Union is minted. The overall drawing depicts a map of the EU against a background of parallel lines stretching to the 12 stars on the EU flag. The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins depict Europe's place on the world map, while the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins show Europe as a group of individual states. On coins of 1 and 2 euros, an image of a map of Europe is given without borders between individual states.
For visually impaired people, coins are provided with a edge to help determine their value. The 1 and 2 euro coins are minted from bimetal, which, together with the text placed along the edges of the rim of the 2 euro coin, should prevent them from being counterfeited.
All coins, regardless of the country of origin, are freely circulating in the Eurozone. By January 1, 2002, about 50 billion coins of various denominations have been prepared.
| Denomination: 1 cent Diameter: 16.25mm Thickness: 1.36mm Weight: 2.30 grams Color: red |
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| Denomination: 2 cents Diameter: 18.75mm Thickness: 1.36mm Weight: 3.06 grams Color: red Metal: copper plated steel |
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| Denomination: 5 cents Diameter: 21.25mm Thickness: 1.36mm Weight: 3.92 grams Color: red Metal: copper plated steel |
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| Denomination: 10 cents Diameter: 19.75mm Thickness: 1.51mm Weight: 4.10 grams Yellow color Metal: Nordic Gold |
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| Denomination: 20 cents Diameter: 22.25mm Thickness: 1.63mm Weight: 5.74 grams Yellow color Metal: Nordic Gold |
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| Denomination: 50 cents Diameter: 24.25mm Thickness: 1.88mm Weight: 7.80 grams Yellow color Metal: Nordic Gold |
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| Denomination: 1 euro Diameter: 23.25mm Thickness: 2.125 mm Weight: 7.50 grams Color: white/yellow |
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| Denomination: 2 euro Diameter: 25.75mm Thickness: 1.95mm Weight: 8.50 grams Color: white/yellow Metal: copper-nickel, nickel alloys |
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The reverse side of the coins characterizes a separate country of the European Union and differs from the rest.
Checking the serial number. The euro banknote number consists of a letter and eleven digits. Numbers are generated according to a special algorithm, resulting in interesting mathematical patterns.
Country of issue
When summing all the digits of the number, a two-digit number is obtained. If you repeat the operation for the result found (several times if necessary), then in the end you can reach the digital root from 1 to 9. The letter and this single-digit number will indicate the country in which the bill was printed.
For each country eligible to issue the euro, a certain letter is assigned, as well as the checksum of the number: Austria - N - 3, Belgium - Z - 9, Germany - X - 2, Greece - Y - 1, Ireland - T - 6, Spain - V - 4, Italy - S - 7, Cyprus - G - 1, Malta - F - 2, Netherlands - P - 1, Portugal - M - 4, Slovakia - E - 3, Slovenia - H - 9, Finland - L - 5, France - U - 5, Estonia - D - 4.
Example. 100 Euro banknote with the number S11752786501. The double sum is: 1+1+7+5+2+7+8+6+5+0+1=43; 4+3=7. Both the letter S and 7 refer to Italy.
Checksum 8
The letter of the serial number is replaced by a number corresponding to the serial number of the letter in the English alphabet. This number and all the digits of the number are added until a single digit is obtained. For a genuine banknote, the final amount is always 8.
Letters of the English alphabet in order: A - 1, B - 2, C - 3, D - 4, E - 5, F - 6, G - 7, H - 8, I - 9, J - 10, K - 11, L - 12, M - 13, N - 14, O - 15, P - 16, Q - 17, R - 18, S - 19, T - 20, U - 21, V - 22, W - 23, X - 24, Y - 25, Z - 26.
Example. 100 euro banknote with the number S11752786501. The letter S is the 19th in the alphabet. Addition chain: 19+1+1+7+5+2+7+8+6+5+0+1=62; 6+2=8.
External signs of the authenticity of the euro
Euro banknotes of each denomination have their own size, dominant color and design style. A set of mandatory attributes is present on banknotes of any denomination.
Paper
For the manufacture of the euro, a special paper made of pure cotton is used. It is smooth to the touch on the front side and a little rough on the back, hard, crunches when bent and, unlike ordinary paper, does not glow in ultraviolet rays.
Relief printing
Special printing methods give the individual elements of banknotes a distinct relief to the touch.
On the front side, there are denomination figures, a sign, the ECB (European Central Bank) line in five languages, the year of issue, the Latin and Greek spelling of EURO, the main picture.
Water marks
When examining the light coupon fields of the banknote against the light, the image becomes visible, which is formed due to the special structure of the paper (areas of different density).
Euro watermarks are a partial repetition of the main image of the obverse (window or gate), the denomination number, as well as a machine-readable barcode in the form of vertical dark and light stripes.
Hologram (kinegram)
All euro banknotes have a hologram on the front side - a pressed pattern on a metallized foil with a three-dimensional image effect.
On banknotes of 5, 10 and 20 euros - this is a silvery transverse strip on the right, on which, at different angles to the light source, either the denomination numbers in the ring of stars or the € symbol are distinguishable.
The hologram on banknotes of 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros is an overlay of a certain geometric shape. By changing the angle of view, one can alternately see either the denomination figures or the architectural motif against the background of diverging rainbow circles formed by microtext (EURO in Latin and Greek and denomination figures).
Security thread
When the banknote is viewed through the light, a dark vertical strip appears in the middle part - this is a protective tape completely embedded in the paper web with a light EURO microtext applied to it and denomination figures in direct and inverted display.
Color change
On the reverse of the banknotes of 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, the denomination figures in the lower right corner are applied with optically variable ink, which changes its color from purple to olive brown when the angle of view is changed.
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Euro machine-readable security features The following euro signs of authenticity require special equipment to detect.
Microprinting and micropatterning
In some areas of banknotes, the text is printed in such small type that it is perceived by the naked eye as a thin line or pattern, and is understandable only under a magnifying glass. So, the letters of the word EURO in Greek on the front side consist of repeating numbers of the denomination in the microscale.
The micropattern is also clearly visible under multiple magnification.
UV luminescence
The substrate remains dark in ultraviolet rays, individual patterns of banknotes glow due to the luminescent substances in the composition of the inks. Security paper fibers show up as blue, red and green threads under UV light. The flag of the European Union on the obverse of the banknotes turns green with orange stars, the signature of the President of the European Central Bank turns green, red-orange stars and circles (dots) of the background are also visible. The map, the bridge, the EURO inscriptions in two languages and the denomination numbers on the reverse side look green-yellow. In addition to common features, there are other features depending on the denomination of the banknote.
Magnetic tags
In some areas of banknotes, inks with magnetic properties are used, which form marks that are detected by magnetic control devices. This is a security thread, the right side of the main design on the obverse, the top serial number on the back.
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Other automatically readable hidden codes are not disclosed to the general public for the security of the currency.
Country code
Where exactly the banknotes themselves are printed depends on each country. Almost all member states of the euro area print "their" banknotes both at their own printing houses and at printing houses of other countries.
To determine for which country a banknote was printed can be determined by its number - the first letter of the number indicates the issuing country. Also, a checksum is “attached” to each country, which is one of the degree of protection of banknotes from counterfeiting.
Country code
Euro banknotes have the right to print only the national central banks of the countries belonging to the eurozone in agreement with the European Central Bank (ECB). The decision on additional emission is taken at a meeting of the ECB Governing Council, which includes 6 members of the ECB Directorate appointed by the European Parliament and 16 national bank governors of the eurozone countries.
Where exactly the banknotes themselves are printed depends on each country. Almost all member states of the euro area print "their" banknotes both at their own printing houses and at printing houses of other countries.
To determine for which country a banknote was printed can be determined by its number - the first letter of the number indicates the issuing country. Also, a checksum is “attached” to each country, which is one of the degree of protection of banknotes from counterfeiting.
| The code | The country | Check sum |
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Slovakia |
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Slovenia |
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not used |
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Great Britain |
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Finland |
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Portugal |
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not used |
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Netherlands |
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Luxembourg |
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Ireland |
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- * Denmark, Sweden and the UK have not yet joined the euro area, but they already have national identifiers assigned
- *** Luxembourg does not have its own certified printing houses and has not yet issued "own" banknotes
cliché code
Each of the 7 denominations of euro banknotes has a six-character code that contains information about the printing house on which the banknote is printed. The cliché code looks like "G013B6", where the first letter identifies the printing house, the next three digits identify the cliché number. For example, "013" stands for the 13th printing block of the printing house. The fifth and sixth elements of the code designate, respectively, the row and column of the banknote on the cliché. This means that with this code, the banknote was located on the cliché in the second row, sixth column. Attention: the cliché code on the banknote must not match the country code!
In the European Union, there are both state-owned printing houses and private ones that have a license to print money. There are several printing houses operating in Germany from the former East and West German territories. In France, the printing house of the Bank of France in Chamalier and a private printing house in Chantepie have the right to issue euro banknotes.
| The code | Typography | Location | The country | Issuing country |
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| (A)* | (Bank of England Printing Works) | (Lawton) | (Great Britain) | --- |
| (B)** | not used | --- | --- | --- |
| (C)* | (Tumba Brook) | (Table) | (Sweden) | --- |
| D*** | Setec Oy | Vantaa | Finland | L (Finland) |
| E | F. C. Oberthur | Chantepie | France | H (Slovenia) L (Finland) P (Netherlands) U (France) |
| F | Osterreichische Banknoten und Sicherheitsdruck | Vein | Austria | N (Austria) P (Netherlands) S (Italy) T (Ireland) Y (Greece) |
| G | Koninklijke Joh. Enschede | haarlem | Netherlands | E (Slovakia) F (Malta) G (Cyprus) L (Finland) N (Austria) P (Netherlands) V (Spain) Y (Greece) |
| H | De La Rue | Gateshead | Great Britain | L (Finland) M (Portugal) P (Netherlands) T (Ireland) |
| (I)** | not used | --- | --- | --- |
| J | Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato | Rome | Italy | S (Italy) |
| K | Banc Ceannais on hEireann/ Central Bank of Ireland | Dublin | Ireland | T (Ireland) |
| L | Banque de France | Chamalier | France | U (France) |
| M | Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre | Madrid | Spain | V (Spain) |
| N | Bank of Greece | Athens | Greece | Y (Greece) |
| (O)** | not used | --- | --- | --- |
| P | Giesecke & Devrient | Munich and Leipzig |
Germany | L (Finland) M (Portugal) P (Netherlands) U (France) V (Spain) X (Germany) Y (Greece) |
| (Q)** | not used | --- | --- | --- |
| R | Bundesdruckerei | Berlin | Germany | P (Netherlands) X (Germany) Y (Greece) |
| (S)* | (Danmarks Nationalbank) | (Copenhagen) | (Denmark) | --- |
| T | National Bank of Belgium | Brussels | Belgium | U (France) V (Spain) Z (Belgium) |
| U | Valora - Banco de Portugal | carregado | Portugal | M (Portugal) |
- * Denmark, Sweden and the UK have not yet joined the euro area, but their national printers already have identifiers assigned to them
- ** Several letters already reserved for the future
- *** Currently not in use. After the complete sale of the printing house to Gemalto Oy in 2003, Finland stopped printing banknotes and orders them from Europe.
European Central Bank (ECB) and its presidents
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The European Central Bank is the central bank of the European Union and the euro area. It was formed on June 1, 1998. The bank's headquarters is located in the German city of Frankfurt am Main. Its staff includes representatives of all EU member states.
The main functions of the bank:
development and implementation of the monetary policy of the euro area;
maintenance and management of the official exchange reserves of the euro area countries;
issue of euro banknotes;
setting basic interest rates.
maintaining price stability in the euro area, that is, ensuring the inflation rate does not exceed 2%.
The European Central Bank is the successor to the European Monetary Institute (EMI), which played a leading role in preparing for the introduction of the euro in 1999.
All euro banknotes bear the signature of the current president of the ECB. Directors are appointed for a term of eight years. In 1998-2010 the bank was headed by:
Wim Duisenberg (07/09/1935 - 07/31/2005), Minister of Finance of the Netherlands and the first president of the ECB. Left post October 31, 2003
Jean-Claude Trichet (b. 12/20/1942), Governor of the Bank of France since 1993, since 10/31/2003 - President of the ECB.
The most common currencies used in different countries of the world have a huge impact on the processes in the financial markets. Each currency unit is designated with a special symbol. This makes any of them recognizable and avoids confusion. Today, almost everyone can immediately distinguish between such signs of world currencies as the US dollar and sterling, the euro and the Japanese yen. Each of these symbols has its own history of origin and carries a certain meaning. In this material, it is proposed to consider the signs of the most popular world currencies.
U.S. dollar
Today, there are several versions of the origin of the sign of this currency. Some people are of the opinion that the symbol "$" came to the US from Spain. At the time of the discovery of the American continent, the Spanish currency was the real. It was equal to 1/8 of the English pound sterling. This ratio was the reason for the name of the real, which was fixed among the British - "peace of ait" (1/8). And, accordingly, the sign of the real currency was chosen in the form of a vertically crossed-out eight.
According to another version, the symbol "$" originates from the name of the US state. Thus, American patriots believe that the first two letters of the English name USA form a dollar sign. As evidence, the argument is given that this symbol was used as a postal stamp for government correspondence.
Another curious version of how the "$" currency sign came about is another "Spanish" variant. So, it is alleged that when exporting gold from the territory of the colonies on the American continent, the stamp “S” was placed on the goods. It symbolized the country of the recipient - Spain. After arriving in Spanish ports, a vertical strikethrough was added to the sign, and when sending cargo in the opposite direction, the symbol was marked with another additional line.
English pound
The English pound currency sign "₤" is a combination of two characters: the Latin letter L and two horizontal strokes. Sometimes a single bar symbol (£) is used to represent this currency. It would be opportune to say that a similar sign is used for other world currencies. For example, with its help, the Turkish lira is also indicated. The Latin word libra was used to define a measure of weight in ancient Rome and later in England.
The monetary unit of the European Union
The sign of the currency of the European Union "€" was chosen based on the results of a sociological survey, in which residents of the member countries of the Commonwealth took part. The symbol was officially introduced at the end of 1996. It should be noted that the euro is a very young currency. Symbols of the world's currencies, such as the symbol for the dollar, the pound sterling, the yuan, and the yen, have a much longer history. Officially, the euro began to be used in early 1999. The sign was developed by the European Commission, which chose a combination of two symbols: the Greek letter "epsilon" and two parallel strokes, symbolizing the stability of the new monetary unit.
Swiss frank
A few years ago in Europe there were a number of currencies that bore the name "franc". However, today only the Swiss representative of this monetary unit is used in circulation. The sign "Fr" itself consists of a combination of two letters: an uppercase "F" and a lowercase "r". The appearance of the franc currency in Europe dates back to the XIV century. Then it began to be used in France.
Japanese yen and Chinese yuan
The name "yuan" appeared during the reign of the Qin dynasty in China. This is how silver coins were called in those days. Local hieroglyphs were used for designation. Nowadays, the international sign is a combination of the Latin letter "Y" and a horizontal line.
Russian ruble
The ruble is the official currency in the Russian Federation. In addition, at one time the same name was given to money in the Russian principalities, the Russian kingdom, the Russian Empire and the USSR. It should also be noted that the Republic of Belarus uses its own rubles.
The modern symbol of the Russian monetary unit consists of the capital letter "R" and one horizontal line crossing it out. An interesting fact is the fact that back in the 17th century, the sign of the ruble currency looked like a combination of two letters: “R” and “U”. The first of them was located at an angle of 90 degrees to the second counterclockwise. By the way, the very name "ruble" began to be used as early as the 13th century.