Bulgaria to issue 2 leva coin

Bulgaria’s Central Bank, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), has announced that it will issue a new 2 leva circulating coin on the 7th December 2015. The bi-metal coin, which will be issued alongside the current 2 leva banknote, was designed by Vanya Dimitrova and will consist of a yellow coloured central core with a silver…

Euro currency

ECB releases euro counterfeit banknote info

The European Central Bank (ECB) has issued its latest information regarding counterfeit euro banknotes identified during the first half of 2015. The reported figures show a decrease in the number of counterfeit banknotes withdrawn from circulation during the first half of 2015 compared to the last half of 2014. In total, 454,000 banknotes were withdrawn…

DNB Banknote checker - phone app

Phone app identifies counterfeit euros

The Dutch National Bank (DNB) has released an app which can be used to identify if a euro banknote is genuine or counterfeit. The app, which can be used on the iPhone 5 or higher, uses the device’s camera to scan the banknote and, the DNB claims, in many cases can identify straightaway whether the…

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Bundesbank records 63% rise in counterfeit banknotes

Germany’s Central Bank, The Deutsche Bundesbank, has released their 2014 counterfeit banknote statistics which shows a large increase in comparison with 2013. The number of counterfeit banknotes removed from circulation during 2014 by banks, retailers and police authorities totaled 63,000 notes, with a nominal value of €3.3 million, a 63% rise compared to 2013. Though…

Euro currency

Lithuania joins the euro

The new year brings a new currency for Lithuanians, as, on the 1st January 2015, Lithuania became the 19th member of the euro currency area, replacing the previous Lithuanian litas currency to the Euro at an exchange rate of €1= LTL 3.45280. Lithuanians have 2 weeks to continue paying for items using Lithuanian litas, but…

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Euro €20 to be unveiled in February 2015

The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced that the €20, the next banknote from the Europa series of banknotes, will be unveiled on 24 February 2015. The new €20 is the third banknote to be released from the second series of Euro banknote, following the €5 and €10 issued in May 2013 and September 2014 respectively.…

Euro 10 banknote_europa series

New euro €10 banknote issued today

The European Central Bank has today released the new €10 banknote into circulation. The new cotton-paper banknote includes various new security features making it more resistant to counterfeiting but, says the ECB, is still easy for users to check its authenticity using the feel, look and tilt method. As with all banknotes within the new Europa series,…

Euro currency

Lithuania: Preparing for the euro

Lithuania will begin using the euro from 1st January 2015. In preparation for the new currency, the Bank of Lithuania has signed an agreement with the German Central Bank – Bundesbank – regarding the acquisition of euro banknotes in all denominations. Chairman of the Board, Vitas Vasiliauskas, from the Bank of Lithuania stated: “We will…

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ECB releases biannual counterfeit banknote info

The European Central Bank (ECB) has released its half year statistics on counterfeit banknotes, showing a reduction compared to the second half of 2013. In total, 331,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation during the first half of 2014. This equates to around 0.002% of banknotes in circulation today (16.4 billion notes as at June 30, 2014).…