One euro banknote

One-euro banknotes and two-euro banknotes were already discussed in the early phase of the euro in the 1990s, when the question of the conceivable denominations of the new currency arose . The first proposals for a one-euro banknote and a two-euro banknote came from Italian financial experts. In October 2003 a new proposal came from the Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti , who was supported by his Austrian counterpart Karl-Heinz Grasser . The intention was to reduce the amount of cash in circulation and to lower inflation on the basis of the assumption that many people would underestimate the value of goods as long as they had to pay for them with coins. The European Central Bank , which alone decides on the denomination of euro banknotes, decided in November 2004, after evaluating a study, not to put any single euro banknotes into circulation. The additional demand for a banknote worth two euros was not pursued after this decision.

Situation at the time of the introduction of euro cash

After the introduction of euro cash in 2002, the five euro coin in particular was missing in Germany , although the value of the five euro banknote came close to the common ten-mark note . The value 5 may have played a role, because the five-mark note played only a subordinate role in daily payment transactions compared to the five-mark coin . The situation was different in Austria, where the residents did not get used to the twenty-schilling coin (~ 1.45 euros) and still preferred the twenty-schilling note over the coin. So it came about that the twenties dominated until the end.

In general, it was found that claims for banknotes with a low nominal value were only strong in those areas where previously payments were made with small notes - regardless of the income level of the people concerned and the local population, which results from the desire for continuity. However, the ECB came to the conclusion that introducing small banknotes would not make sense for economic reasons.

Political Initiatives

In February 2008, the CDU politician Alexander-Martin Sardina discussed the introduction of 1-euro banknotes as a possible alternative in the wake of the increasing number of counterfeits of 1 and 2 euro coins.

On November 29, 2011, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the EU Parliament adopted a report by the European Parliamentarian Hans-Peter Martin , in which the author calls on the EU Commission to reassess the effects of the introduction of one and two euro banknotes examine. This was a first step towards a possible introduction of these notes. In the course of new discussions in the EU Parliament in May 2012, in addition to the abolition of the one and two cent coins, the introduction of the one and two euro notes was discussed and a majority in Parliament decided that the ECB would like both Check options.

In January 2013, the CSU politician Ernst Hinsken, in a letter to ECB President Mario Draghi, called for the introduction of one-euro notes, etc. a. with the argument that these could also be exchanged for other currencies, which would have advantages when giving tips abroad, for example, and could thus strengthen the acceptance and use of the euro abroad.

National predecessor currencies of the euro

The following tables show the completely different denominations of the national predecessor currencies and the associated difficulties in finding a good compromise for the euro denomination. The result was the version shown in the first line and valid today. To parallel denominations of coins and banknotes, which were common in many countries and z. B. with the US dollar (1 dollar) and the Canadian dollar are still common, it did not occur.

	lowest value of a coin	highest value of a coin	lowest value of a banknote	highest value of a banknote
Extreme values	(SLO) 10 stotin = 0.04 cents (AUT) 1 groschen = 0.07 cents	(AUT) 50 shillings = 3.63 euros (FRA) 20 francs = 3.05 euros	(SLO) 10 tolar = 0.04 euros (EST) 1 kroon = 0.06 euros	(LVA) 500 Latu = 711.44 euros (DEU) 1000 Marks = 511.29 euros
Extreme values in normal payment transactions	(LTU) 1 Centas = 0.29 Cent (SLO) 1 Tolar = 0.42 Cent	(ESP) 500 pesetas = 3.01 euros (DEU) 5 marks = 2.56 euros	(EST) 2 Krooni = 0.13 euros (SLO) 100 Tolar = 0.42 euros
most moderate values	(FIN) 10 Penniä = 1.68 cents (CYP) 1 cent = 1.70 cents	(GRE) 100 drachmas = 0.29 euros (SLO) 50 tolar = 0.21 euros	(MLT) 2 pounds = 4.66 euros (IRL) 5 pounds = 6.35 euros	(EST) 500 krooni = 31.96 euros (GRE) 10,000 drachmas = 29.35 euros

Denominations of the euro and its predecessor currencies

country	currency		1 euro =	Coins												Banknotes
Eurozone	Euro	cent	0001					0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500
Belgium	franc	Centime	0040.3399					0.50	1		5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000	2000		10,000
Germany	mark	penny	0001.95583				0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10		0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000
Estonia	Kroon	Senti	0015.6466				0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	25th	50	100		500
France	franc	Centime	0006.55957			0.01		0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500
Finland	Markka	Penni	0005.94573						0.10		0.50	1		5	10	20th	50	100		500	1000
Greece	drachma	Lepta	0340.750		0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000		5000	10,000
Ireland	lb	Pence	0000.787564				0.005	0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1		5	10	20th	50	100
Italy	lira	Centesimo	1936.27				10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000	2000	5000	10,000		50000	100,000		500000
Latvia	Lats	Santims	0000.702804					0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100		500
Lithuania	Litas	Centas	0003.45280			0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500
Luxembourg	franc	Centime	0040.3399				0.25		1		5		20th	50	100			1000		5000
Malta	lira	cent	0000.4293					0.005	0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th
Netherlands	gulden	cent	0002.20371				0.01		0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1	2.5	5	10	25th	50	100	250		1000
Austria	Shilling	Penny	0013.7603		0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10		0.50	1		5	10	20th	50	100		500	1000		5000
Portugal	Escudo	Centavo	0200.482				1		5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000	2000	5000	10,000
Slovakia	Koruna	Halierov	0030.1260				0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000		5000
Slovenia	Tolar	Stotin	0239.640	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000		5000	10,000
Spain	peseta	Céntimo	0166.386			0.50	1		5	10	25th	50	100	200	500	1000	2000	5000	10,000
Cyprus	lira	cent	0000.585274						0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1		5	10	20th

Denominations that come closest in value to the corresponding euro denomination are in its column.

Coin denominations were formally still valid when the euro was introduced and (partly) in circulation. However, they were no longer minted and were obsolete for daily payment transactions; Prices have been rounded

Coin denominations in normal use, ie without commemorative and special coins

Denominations were in circulation as coins and banknotes . Often only one form dominated in everyday payment transactions.

Denominations only as banknotes

Comparison with international currencies

Comparison of the euro to other international currencies (as of January 2014)

country	currency		1 euro ≈	Coins												Banknotes
Eurozone (EU)	Euro	cent	00001					0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500
United States	dollar	cent	00001.30					0.01		0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100
United Kingdom	lb	penny	00000.80					0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50
Japan	yen	Sen	00120					1		5	10		50	100		500	1000	2000	5000	10,000
Canada	dollar	cent	00001.30					0.01		0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100
Australia	dollar	cent	00001.40							0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100
Switzerland	Francs	Rappen	00001.20							0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200		1000
Bulgaria	Lev	Stinky	00001.96				0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100
Denmark	Crown	Øre	00007.50						0.25	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000
Croatia	Kuna	Lipa	00007.60		0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000
Poland	Zloty	Grosz	00004.17			0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200
Romania	Leu	Ban	00004.46			0.01		0.05	0.10		0.50	1		5	10		50	100	200	500
Sweden	Crown	Ore	00009							0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000
Czech Republic	Crown	Brighter	00025th				0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000	2000	5000
Hungary	Forints	Filler	00290				1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000	2000	5000	10,000	20000
Argentina	peso	Centavo	00010.50		0.01		0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100
Brazil	real	Centavo	00003.10				0.01		0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100
People's Republic of China	Renminbi		00008th		0.01	0.02	0.05	0.1		0.5	1		5	10	20th	50	100
Indonesia	Rupiah	Sen	15600			50	100	200	500	1000	2000	5000	10,000	20000	50000	100,000
Iceland	Crown	Aurar	00160				1		5	10		50	100		500	1000	2000	5000	10,000
South Korea	won	Chon	01350		1		5	10		50	100		500	1000		5000	10,000		50000
Azerbaijan	Manat	Qapik	00001.80				0.01	0.03	0.05	0.1	0.2	0.5	1		5	10	20th	50	100
Kuwait	dinar	Fils	00000.38			0.001		0.005	0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1		5	10	20th
New Zealand	dollar	cent	00001.60						0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100
Norway	Crown	Øre	00007.50								1		5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000
Russia	ruble	Kopecks	00040	0.01	0.05	0.10		0.50	1	2	5	10		50	100		500	1000		5000
Saudi Arabia	Riyal	Halala	4.20					0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1	2	5	10	20 *	50	100	200 *	500
Serbia	dinar	Para	00122					1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000	2000	5000
South Africa	edge	cent	00012		0.01	0.02	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.50	1	2	5	10	20th	50	100	200
Turkey	lira	Kuruş	00002.90				0.01		0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1		5	10	20th	50	100	200
United Arab Emirates	Dirham	Fils	00004.11					0.05	0.10	0.25	0.50	1		5	10	20th	50	100	200	500	1000

Denominations that come closest in value to the corresponding euro denomination are in its column.

* The denominations of 20 and 200 in Saudi Arabia were issued as special banknotes in 1999. Just like regular banknotes, these are legal tender, but are gradually being withdrawn from circulation.

Coin denominations are formally still valid and (partly) in circulation. However, they are no longer minted and are obsolete for daily payment transactions; Prices are rounded

Coin face values ​​in normal use

Denominations are in circulation as coins and banknotes at the same time . Often only one form dominates in everyday payment transactions.

Denominations only as banknotes

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Small written question from MP Alexander-Martin Sardina from February 22nd, 2008 (printed matter 18/8039) . Retrieved December 4, 2015.
2. ↑ APA-OTS original text archive: HP Martin: Two new parliamentary reports . Retrieved November 29, 2011.
3. ↑ t-online.de: EU Parliament wants to abolish 1 and 2 cent coins . Retrieved May 24, 2012.
4. ↑ rp-online.de: Letter to the ECB - CSU politician calls for one-euro notes . Retrieved January 20, 2013.