Banknotes and coins

Since 1 January 2002, seven denominations of banknotes have been legal tender in the euro zone: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.

The banknotes, which feature the architectural styles representative of seven periods of European cultural history, are identical for all countries that have adopted the euro as the single currency.

The Europa series banknotes are being introduced gradually over several years, in ascending order. The four first banknotes in the new series, the €5, €10, €20 and €50, started circulating in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 respectively. Europa series will be completed with the issuance of the €100 and €200 on 28 May 2018. There will be no €500 banknote.

The Europa series has a new design and improved security.

The first series €500 banknotes will no longer be issued by the Banco de España as of 27 January 2019, but they will continue to be legal tender, so you can still use them as a means of payment and store of value (i.e. spend and save them). Like all denominations of euro banknotes, the €500 note will always retain its value and can be exchanged at a national central bank of the euro area at any time.