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Only seven wrong banknotes per 10,000 inhabitants: The number of counterfeit euro notes continues to fall. The Bundesbank is convinced that counterfeiters are biting their teeth on the new security features.
The number of counterfeit banknotes continued to decline in Germany last year. As the Bundesbank announced, around 55,200 false euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2019. In mathematical terms, there were seven false banknotes per 10,000 residents.
Lowest level since 2013
The Bundesbank is convinced that the efforts of Europe's monetary authorities to improve the security of euro banknotes are having an effect: the number of counterfeits has been falling for years and has reached its lowest level since 2013. At that time, 670,000 counterfeits had been seized. As far as damage is concerned, it was EUR 3.3 million in Germany in 2019, which is roughly the same level as in 2014.
New euro notes Image source: ARMANDO BABANI / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutt
More counterfeit protection
New euro notes from 2019
The 100 and 200 euro notes are given a new outfit and are intended to make life difficult for counterfeiters. | more
In particular, the number of counterfeit 50-euro notes has dropped "significantly", according to the Bundesbank. They are the most common counterfeit banknotes. Bundesbank board member Johannes Beermann called the decline "remarkable". Fifties and twenties accounted for three quarters of all counterfeits in Europe, and as much as 80 percent in Germany.
Circulating euro symbols in the banknote
Beermann attributes the decline in counterfeiting to the fact that the central banks have launched a second series of euro notes with new security features since 2013. Counterfeiters struggle with the transparent portrait window and the "emerald number" that changes color when the note is tilted.
The new 100 and 200 euro notes also have a "satellite hologram" in which small euro symbols move. The 500-euro note is no longer issued, but 500s still in circulation remain valid.
Tagesschau24 reported on this topic on January 24, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
More on this topic:
New 100 and 200 euro notes from May 2019, September 17, 2018
Bundesbank: fewer flowers on the euro, 25.01.2019
