The new €100 and €200 banknotes feature larger and clearer denomination images, as well as additional security features
Samples will first be made available for familiarization by bank and retail employees, as well as companies that service ATMs and vending machines. The new banknotes are expected to be introduced into wide circulation in May 2019. The current 100 and 200 euro banknotes will continue to be accepted after that date.
Over the past four years, the European Central Bank has gradually introduced new banknotes of the second series in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50 euros. The two smallest banknotes – 5 and 10 euros – in addition to better protection against counterfeiting, also have a special coating that makes them more durable.
The 500 euro banknote will not be updated. In 2016, it was decided to gradually phase out the 500-euro banknotes from circulation, as they are most often used in money laundering and illegal transactions. Their issuance will be completely discontinued at the end of 2018.
According to Deutsche Welle, in the first half of this year, more than 300,000 counterfeit banknotes were detected in the eurozone, which is 17 percent less than in the previous six months. The most popular among counterfeiters are banknotes in denominations of 20 and 50 euros.