Jump to content

10 euro note

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Haku8645 (talk | contribs) at 03:11, 25 March 2012 (spelling). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ten euro
(Eurozone and Institutions)
Value10 Euro
Width127 mm
Height67 mm
Security featuresHologram, a EURion constellation, a glossy stripe, watermarks, raised printing, ultraviolet ink, microprinting, a security thread, perforations, matted surface, barcodes, serial number.[1]
Material usedCotton fibre[1]
Years of printing2002 - present[2]
Obverse
DesignArch in Romanesque architecture[3]
DesignerRobert Kalina[4]
Design date3 December 1996[4]
Reverse
DesignBridge in Romanesque architecture and map of Europe[3]
DesignerRobert Kalina[4]
Design date3 December 1996[4]

The ten euro note (€10) is the second-lowest value euro banknote and has been used since the introduction of the euro (in its cash form) in 2002.[5] The note is used in the 22 countries which have it as their sole currency (with 20 legally adopting it); with a population of about 332 million.[6]

It is the second-smallest note measuring 127x67mm with a red colour scheme.[3] The ten euro banknotes depict bridges and arches/doorways in Romanesque architecture (between the 11th and 12th centuries CE).

The ten 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 2,005,149,600 ten euro banknotes in circulation around the Eurozone.

History

Main article: History of the euro

Before the introduction

The euro was set up on 1 January 1999, when it became the currency of over 300 million people in Europe.[2] 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 banknotes and coins of the eurozone 12, as it was then, national currencies like the Irish Pound and the Austrian schilling.[2]

After the introduction

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.[2] 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.[7][2]

Changes

There has so far only been one series of euro notes, however a second series of euro notes is predicted to be introduced over the next few years.[8] The initial issue of notes bears the signature of the 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.[3]

Design

10 euro banknote under fluorescent light (UV-A)
10 euro note under UV light (Obverse)
Obverse
10 euro note under UV light (Reverse)
Reverse
Printer code on the 10 euro note.
Close up of the printer code on the 10 euro note, showing micro printing, raised lettering and EURion design

The ten euro note is the second smallest at 127 millimetres (5.0 in) × 67 millimetres (2.6 in) with a red colour scheme.[3] All bank notes depict bridges and arches/doorways in a different historical European style; the ten euro note shows the Romanesque era (between the 11th and 12th centuries CE).[9] 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.[10]

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.[3]

10 euro note picture by a camera with no IR filter and normal photo for comparison on the right.
Comparison of a note under infrared light (left), and a note under normal light (right).

Security features

As a lower value note, the security features of the ten euro note are not as high as the other denominations. However, it is protected by:

  • A hologram,[1] tilt the note and one should see the hologram image change between the value and a window or doorway, but in the background, one should see rainbow-coloured concentric circles of micro-letters moving from the centre to the edges of the patch. [11]
  • A EURion constellation,[1] special printing processes give the euro notes their unique feel.
  • A glossy stripe,[1] tilt the note and a the glossy stripe showing the value numeral and the euro symbol will appear.
  • Watermarks,[1] it appears when the banknote is against the light.
  • Raised printing,[1] special methods of printing makes the ink feel raised or thicker in the main image, the lettering and the value numerals on the front of the banknotes. In order to feel the raised print, run your finger over it or scratch it gently with your fingernail.[12]
  • Ultraviolet ink,[1] Under ultraviolet light, the paper itself should not glow, fibres embedded in the paper should appear, and should be coloured red, blue and green, the European Union flag looks green and has orange stars, 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.[13]
  • Microprinting,[1] On numerous areas of the banknotes you can see microprinting, for example, inside the "EYPΩ" (EURO in Greek characters) on the front. You will need a magnifying glass to see it. The tiny text is sharp, and not blurred.[13]
  • A security thread,[1] The security thread is embedded in the banknote paper. Hold the banknote against the light - the thread will appear as a dark stripe. The word "EURO" and the value can be seen in tiny letters on the stripe.[14]
  • Perforations,[1] Hold the banknote against the light. You should see perforations in the hologram which will form the € symbol. You should also see small numbers showing the value.[14]
  • A matted surface,[1] the note paper is made out of pure cotton, which feels crisp and firm, but not limp or waxy.[12]
  • Barcodes,[1]
  • A serial number,[1] like on every banknote.

Circulation

As of September 2011, there are approximately 2,005,149,600 €10 banknotes in circulation around the Eurozone 17.[15] That is approximately €20,051,496,200 worth of €10 banknotes (as of September 2011).[15] 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.[15]

Environmental impact

As an environment-friendly institution, the European Central Bank tries very hard to make a shrewd use of natural resources, to keep the quality of the world and to save people's health in the produce and supplying of euro notes.[16]

Euro notes are safe to use: independent test results confirmed that euro notes fulfilled all European Union regulations including a large range of chemical substances in euro notes.[16] All substances in the notes have shown a concentration below any limit.[16]

Tracking

There are several communities of people at European level, most of which is EuroBillTracker,[17] that, as a hobby, it keeps track of the euro banknotes that pass through their hands, to keep track and know where they travel or have traveled.[17] The aim is to record as many notes as possible in order to know details about its spread, like from where and to where they travel in general, follow it up, like where a ticket has been seen in particular, and generate statistics and rankings, for example, in which countries there are more tickets.[17] EuroBillTracker has registered over 96 million notes as of October 2011,[18] worth more than €1.876 billion.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "ECB: Security Features". European Central Bank. ecb.int. 2002. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e "ECB: Introduction". ECB. ECB. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "ECB: Banknotes". European Central Bank. European Central Bank. 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d "ECB: Banknotes design". ECB. ECB. February 1996. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Witnessing a milestone in European history". The Herald. Back Issue. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  6. ^
  7. ^ "Bank of Italy – Exchange of lira notes and coins". Banc d'Italia. Banc d'Italia. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  8. ^ "ECB: The 10th anniversary of euro banknotes and coins". ECB. ecb.int. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  9. ^ "ECB: Banknotes". European Central Bank. ecb.int. 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Money talks - the new Euro cash". BBC News. BBC News. December 1996. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  11. ^ "ECB:Tilt". ECB. ecb.int. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  12. ^ a b "ECB: Feel". ECB. ecb.int. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  13. ^ a b "ECB: Additional features". ECB. ecb.int. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  14. ^ a b "ECB: Look". ECB. ecb.int. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  15. ^ a b c "ECB: Circulation". European Central Bank. European Central Bank. August 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  16. ^ a b c "ECB: Environmental impact of euro banknotes". ECB. ecb.int. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  17. ^ a b c "EuroBillTracker - About this site". Philippe Girolami, Anssi Johansson, Marko Schilde. EuroBillTracker. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  18. ^ a b "EuroBillTracker - Statistics". Philippe Girolami, Anssi Johansson, Marko Schilde. EuroBillTracker. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=10_euro_note&oldid=483788143"