:200 euro note

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{{main|History of the euro}}

The euro was founded on 1 January 1999, when it became the currency of over 300 million people in Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.int/euro/intro/html/index.en.html |title=ECB: Introduction|work=ECB|date=12 November 2020| access-date= 21 October 2011 }} For the first three years of its existence it was an invisible currency, only used in accountancy. euro cash was not introduced until 1 January 2002, when it replaced the national banknotes and coins of the countries in eurozone 12, such as the Finnish markka.

In 2007, Slovenia was the first country to adopt the euro since the introduction of euro notes and coins in 2002,{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/focuson/focuson9120_en.htm |title=Slovenia joins the euro area - European Commission |publisher=European Commission |date=16 June 2011 |access-date=6 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911232930/http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/focuson/focuson9120_en.htm |archive-date=11 September 2013 }} followed by Cyprus and Malta in 2008,{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7165622.stm | title=Cyprus and Malta adopt the euro - BBC NEWS | work=BBC News | date=1 January 2008 | agency=British Broadcasting Corporation | access-date=6 August 2013}} Slovakia in 2009,{{cite news | url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-12-31/slovakia-joins-decade-old-euro-zonebusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130806122707/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-12-31/slovakia-joins-decade-old-euro-zonebusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 6, 2013 | title=Slovakia Joins Decade-Old Euro Zone - Businessweek | work=Bloomberg Businessweek | date=31 December 2008 | agency=Bloomberg | access-date=6 August 2013 | author=Kubosova, Lucia}} Estonia in 2011,{{cite news | url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0713/133287-euro/ | title=Estonia to join euro zone in 2011 | work=RTÉ News | date=13 July 2010 | agency=Radió Teilifís Éireann | access-date=6 August 2013}} Latvia in 2014, Lithuania in 2015,{{cite web | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324507404578595440293862344 | title=Latvia Gets Green Light to Join Euro Zone -WSJ.com | work=Wall Street Journal | date=9 July 2013 | access-date=31 July 2013 | author=Van Tartwijk, Maarten | author2=Kaza, Juris}} with Croatia being the most recent country to join the eurozone in 2023.{{cite journal |last1=Falagiarda |first1=Matteo |last2=Gartner |first2=Christine |title=Croatia adopts the euro |url=https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/economic-bulletin/focus/2023/html/ecb.ebbox202208_02~15fd36600a.en.html |website=European Central Bank |date=12 January 2023 |access-date=25 June 2023}}

The changeover period during which the former currencies' notes and coins were exchanged for those of the euro lasted about two months, from 1 January 2002 until 28 February 2002. The official date on which the national currencies ceased to be legal tender varied from member state to member state. 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 after that. Even after the old currencies ceased to be legal tender, they continued to be accepted by national central banks for ten years or more.{{cite web | url=http://www.centralbank.ie/about-us/Documents/PRESSKIT%20-%2010th%20anniversary%20of%20the%20euro.pdf | title=Press kit - tenth anniversary of the euro banknotes and coins | publisher=Central Bank of Ireland | work=ECB | year=2011 | access-date=21 August 2012 | archive-date=14 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114220243/http://www.centralbank.ie/about-us/Documents/PRESSKIT%20-%2010th%20anniversary%20of%20the%20euro.pdf | url-status=dead }}

Notes printed before November 2003 bear the signature of the first president of the European Central Bank, Wim Duisenberg, who was replaced on 1 November 2003 by Jean-Claude Trichet, whose signature appears on issues from November 2003 to March 2012. Notes issued after March 2012 bear the signature of the third ECB President Mario Draghi.{{cite web | url=https://numistoria.altervista.org/blog/?p=10117 | title=The signature of Mario Draghi on euro banknotes | date=13 January 2011 | access-date=7 December 2024}}

Until May 2013 there was only one series of euro notes, however a new series, similar to the first one, was planned to be released.{{cite web | url=http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/other/p041-048_mb200508en.pdf | title=ECB Monthly bulletin- August 2005 - THE EURO BANKNOTES: DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES | publisher=ecb.int | work=ECB | date=August 2005 | access-date=21 August 2012 | quote=p.43, section 'THE SECOND SERIES OF EURO BANKNOTES'}} The bank notes would be replaced in ascending order.[https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2012/html/pr121108_1.en.html Eurosystem to introduce second series of euro banknotes – the “Europa” series] Therefore, the first new note was the five-euro note that has been in circulation since 2 May 2013. Its new design was made public on 10 January 2013 in the Archaeological Museum of Frankfurt (Germany).[https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2013/html/pr130110_1.en.html Eurosystem unveils the Europa series €5 banknote] While broadly similar to the previous notes, minor design changes include an updated map and a hologram of Europa.{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-31/ecb-said-to-use-greek-myth-for-security-on-new-euro-banknotes.html | title=ECB Said to Use Greek Myth for Security on New Euro Notes | work=Bloomberg | date=1 September 2012 | agency=Bloomberg | access-date=7 August 2013 | author=Randow, Jana}}

Moreover, the new notes reflect the expansion of the European Union; the previous issues do not include the members Cyprus and Malta (Cyprus is off the map to the east and Malta was too small to be depicted{{cite web| url = http://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/html/index.en.html#main| title = The Euro: Banknotes: Design elements| access-date = 2009-07-05| author = European Central Bank| author-link = European Central Bank| quote = The banknotes show a geographical representation of Europe. It excludes islands of less than 400 square kilometres because high-volume offset printing does not permit the accurate reproduction of small design elements.}}).

It would be the first time in which the Bulgarian Cyrillic alphabet would be used on the banknotes as a result of Bulgaria joining the European Union in 2007. Therefore, the new series of Euro banknotes would include "ЕВРО", which is the Bulgarian spelling for EURO as well as the abbreviation "ЕЦБ" (short for Европейска централна банка in Bulgarian).{{cite web | url=http://www.new-euro-banknotes.eu/Euro-banknotes/Compare/Compare-both-5-banknotes/Superimpose/(cur_bn)/171 | title=Superimpose - ECB - Our Money | publisher=Our Money | access-date=7 August 2013 | year=2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213051604/http://www.new-euro-banknotes.eu/Euro-banknotes/Compare/Compare-both-5-banknotes/Superimpose/(cur_bn)/171 | archive-date=2013-02-13 | url-status=dead }}

The design of the Europa series 200 euro banknote was revealed on 17 September 2018 and launched on 28 May 2019. Banknotes from the first series are legal tender and will always retain their value. They will continue to circulate alongside the Europa series until the remaining stocks have been used up.[https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/current/html/index.en.html Current banknotes]

From 2020, Christine Lagarde's signature would gradually begin to appear on banknotes entering circulation, becoming the fourth signature to appear on euro banknotes.{{Cite web|title=Christine Lagarde has already put her signature on EURO banknotes|url=https://www.eudebates.tv/debates/eu-policies/economy/christine-lagarde-has-already-put-her-signature-on-euro-banknotes/|date=2019-11-27|website=eudebates.tv|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-18}}

File:Hologram 200euro.jpg

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The €200 note measures {{convert|153|mm}} × {{convert|82|mm}} and has a yellow-brown color scheme. All euro banknotes depict bridges and arches/doorways, each in a different historical European style: the €200 note shows the Art Nouveau era (19th century).{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/html/index.en.html |title=ECB: Security Features|work=ECB|date=11 September 2018| access-date= 23 October 2011 }} 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.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/slideshow/money_talks/slide2.stm |title=Money talks – the new Euro cash|date=December 1996|access-date=13 October 2011|work=BBC News}}

Like all euro notes, it contains the denomination, the EU flag, the signature of the president of the ECB and the initials of that bank in different EU languages, a map of Europe, a depiction of EU territories overseas, the stars from the EU flag and twelve security features as listed below.

The €200 note is protected by:

• Colour changing ink used on the numeral located on the back of the note, that appears to change colour from purple to brown when the note is tilted.
• A see-through number printed at the top corner of the note, on both sides, appears to combine perfectly to form the value numeral when held against the light.
• A glossy stripe, at the back of the note, showing the value numeral and the euro symbol.
• A hologram: the hologram image changes between the value and a window or doorway, but in the background, rainbow-colored concentric circles of micro-letters appear, moving from the centre to the edges of the patch.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/tilt/html/index.en.html|title=ECB:Tilt|work=ECB|publisher=ecb.int|date=1 January 2002|access-date=22 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019082551/http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/tilt/html/index.en.html|archive-date=2012-10-19|url-status=dead}}
• A EURion constellation: this is a pattern of symbols found on a number of banknote designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help software detect the presence of a banknote in a digital image.
• Watermarks, which appear when held up to the light.
• Raised printing: in the main image, the lettering and the value numerals on the front of the banknotes will be raised.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/feel/html/index.en.html|title=ECB: Feel|work=ECB|publisher=ecb.int|date=1 January 2011|access-date=22 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021234601/http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/feel/html/index.en.html|archive-date=2011-10-21|url-status=dead}}
• Ultraviolet ink; the paper itself does not glow, fibers embedded in the paper appear, and are coloured red, blue and green: the EU flag is green and has orange stars, the ECB President's, currently Mario Draghi's, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/additional/html/index.en.html|title=ECB: Additional features|work=ECB|publisher=ecb.int|date=1 January 2002|access-date=22 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023172924/http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/additional/html/index.en.html|archive-date=2011-10-23|url-status=dead}}
• Microprinting: on various areas of the banknotes there is microprinting, for example, inside the "ΕΥΡΩ" (EURO in Greek characters) on the front. The micro-text is sharp, not blurred.
• A security thread, embedded in the banknote paper. The thread will appear as a dark stripe when held up to the light. The word "EURO" and the value is embedded in tiny letters on the thread.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/look/html/index.en.html|title=ECB: Look|work=ECB|publisher=ecb.int|date=1 January 2002|access-date=22 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023172929/http://www.ecb.int/euro/banknotes/security/look/html/index.en.html|archive-date=2011-10-23|url-status=dead}}
• Perforations in the hologram which will form the euro symbol. There are also small numbers showing the value.
• A matted surface; the note paper is made out of pure cotton, which feels crisp and firm, not limp or waxy.
• Barcodes,
• A serial number.

In addition to the previous series' features the Europa series include a "Satellite Hologram" which shows two small € symbols that circle the denomination number when the banknote is tilted.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=27 May 2019|title=New euro banknotes make use of high technology|work=Bank of Finland|url=https://www.suomenpankki.fi/en/media-and-publications/releases/2019/uudet-eurosetelit-ovat-taynna-huipputeknologiaa/|access-date=}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=13 September 2018|title=The €uro > Banknotes > Denominations|url=https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/denominations/html/index.en.html#es2-200|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716095752/http://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/denominations/html/index.en.html |archive-date=2015-07-16 |access-date=|website=}}

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.

In December 2022, there were 849,655,561 two-hundred-euro banknotes in circulation around the euro area{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.int/stats/euro/circulation/html/index.en.html |title=ECB: Circulation|work=ECB|date=22 March 2025|publisher=European Central Bank}} for €170,443,203,200.

This is a net number, i.e. the number of banknotes issued by the Eurosystem central banks, without further distinction as to who is holding the currency issued, thus also including the stocks held by credit institutions.

Besides the date of the introduction of the first set to January 2002, the publication of figures is more significant through the maximum number of banknotes raised each year. The number is higher the end of the year, except for this note in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2015.

The figures are as follows:

On 28 May 2019, a new 'Europe' series was issued.

The first series of notes were issued in conjunction with those for a few weeks in the series 'Europe' until existing stocks are exhausted, then gradually withdrawn from circulation. Both series thus run parallel but the proportion tends inevitably to a sharp decrease in the first series.

The latest figures provided by the ECB are the following:

Legally, both the European Central Bank and the central banks of the eurozone countries have the right to issue the seven different euro banknotes. In practice, only the national central banks of the zone physically issue and withdraw euro banknotes. The European Central Bank does not have a cash office and is not involved in any cash operations.

There are several communities of people in Europe, in particular EuroBillTracker,{{cite web|url=http://en.eurobilltracker.com/about/ |title=EuroBillTracker - About this site |date=1 January 2002 |access-date=21 October 2011 |work=Philippe Girolami, Anssi Johansson, Marko Schilde |publisher=EuroBillTracker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507044301/http://en.eurobilltracker.com/about/ |archive-date=7 May 2013 |url-status=live }} who, as a hobby, track the euro banknotes that pass through their hands, recording where they travel. The aim is to record as many notes as possible to know details about their spread, i.e. where the notes travel, and generate statistics and rankings: for example, in which countries there are more tickets.{{clarify|date=January 2016}} EuroBillTracker has registered over 180 million notes as of September 2018,{{cite web |url=http://en.eurobilltracker.com/stats/ |title=EuroBillTracker - Statistics|date=1 January 2002|access-date=21 October 2011|work=Philippe Girolami, Anssi Johansson, Marko Schilde |publisher=EuroBillTracker}} worth more than €3.3 billion.

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Category:Euro banknotes

Category:Two-hundred-base-unit banknotes