The European Central Bank has unveiled a new €50 banknote, which will enter into circulation next April.
After the €5, €10 and €20, the €50 is the fourth denomination in the second series of euro banknotes, known as the Europa series.
ECB Executive Board member Yves Mersch said the “state-of-the-art security features help protect our money.
“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.”
The new €50 banknote includes a portrait window – a new and innovative feature first used on the Europa series €20.
When the banknote is held up to the light, a transparent window near the top of the hologram reveals a portrait of Europa, a figure from Greek mythology, which is visible on both sides of the note.
Five facts about the new €50 https://t.co/L32R4jEGq7
— ECB (@ecb) July 5, 2016
The front of the banknote features an “emerald number”, a shiny number that, when tilted, changes colour from emerald green to deep blue and displays an effect of the light that moves up and down.
These security features facilitate checking for authenticity using the ‘feel, look and tilt’ method.
The €50 is the most widely used euro banknote, accounting for 45% of all banknotes in circulation.
There are more €50 banknotes in circulation than the €5, €10 and €20 together.
The number of €50 banknotes in circulation is also nearly the same as the total number of all denominations in circulation at the end of 2002, the year when euro banknotes and coins started to circulate.
