Background
information
-
Whose
signature
is on
the
banknotes?
-
Who
designed
the
banknotes?
-
Why
is the
word
EURO
written
in both
Greek
and
Latin
letters?
-
Why
are the
banknotes
easy to
use for
blind
and
partially
sighted
people?
-
Do
the
bridges
on the
back of
the
banknotes
actually
exist?
Whose signature is on
the banknotes?
Euro banknotes bear the
signature of Willem F.
Duisenberg, the first
President of the European
Central Bank, or of
Jean-Claude Trichet, who
succeeded him on 1 November
2003. Banknotes with one
signature or the other are
equally valid.
Willem F.
Duisenberg
Jean-Claude
Trichet
Who designed the
banknotes?
An Austrian artist,
Robert Kalina. His designs
are based on the theme "Ages
and styles of Europe". They
represent the architectural
styles of seven periods in
Europe's cultural history:
the Classical period is
depicted on the €5 banknote,
the Romanesque period on the
€10, the Gothic period on
the €20, the Renaissance on
the €50 and baroque and
rococo on the €100, while
the age of iron and glass
architecture appears on the
€200 banknote and modern
20th century architecture on
the €500. Windows and
gateways are the main
features on the front of the
banknotes, and bridges on
the back. The illustrations
are of typical examples of
architecture of each period
rather than of particular
buildings.
Why is the word EURO
written in both Greek and
Latin letters?
The name of the currency
appears in both Latin (EURO)
and Greek letters (EYPΩ)
because both alphabets are
used in the European Union.
Why are the banknotes
easy to use for blind and
partially sighted people?
They are very
user-friendly for blind and
partially sighted people for
various reasons. Each of the
seven banknote denominations
has a different size. The
large, highly legible
numbers (i.e. the value
numerals) on the front of
the banknotes are raised
slightly above the surface
of the paper and can be
identified by touch. Tactile
marks are included on the
bottom edge of the €200
banknote and on the
right-hand edge of the €500.
Each banknote has its own
predominant colour (e.g.
blue for the €20). Strongly
contrasting colours have
been chosen for
'neigbouring' denominations
(e.g. red for the €10
banknote, blue for the €20).
The European Blind Union was
consulted from the start of
the design phase of the
banknotes (1995).
Do the bridges on the
back of the banknotes
actually exist?
No, they don't - they
merely exemplify an
architectural style or a
period in European history.
If a real bridge were to be
shown, then that particular
banknote would be associated
with the country where the
bridge is located. Bridges
like those in the
illustrations exist in many
parts of Europe. The windows
and gateways shown on the
banknotes are also stylised
illustrations.