100 euro note

One hundred euro

(Eurozone and Institutions)
Value:	100 euro
Width:	147[1] mm
Height:	82[1] mm
Security Features:	Hologram, EURion, watermarks, raised printing, colour changing ink, microprinting, ultraviolet ink, a security thread, matted surface, perforations, see through number, barcodes and a serial number[2]
Paper Type:	Cotton fibre[3]
Years of Printing:	2002–present[4]
Obverse
Design:	Window in the Baroque and Rococo style.[5]
Designer:	Robert Kalina[6]
Design Date:	3 December 1996[6]
Reverse
Design:	Bridge in the Baroque and Rococo style and map of Europe.[5]
Designer:	Robert Kalina[6]
Design Date:	3 December 1996[6]
v t e

The one hundred euro (€100) note is one of the higher value euro banknotes and has been used since the introduction of the euro (in its cash form) in 2002.^[7] The hundred euro note is the third largest euro note at a measurement of 147 x 82mm with a green colour scheme.^[5] The architectural style depicted in the hundred euro note shows the Baroque and Rococo style.^[5] It is consequently used daily by about 332 million Europeans.^[8][9] The hundred euro banknote is used in the 22 countries which have it as their sole currency (with 20 legally adopting it) in Europe.^[10]

The changeover period during which the former currencies' notes and coins were exchanged for those of the euro lasted about two months, until 28 February 2002. The official date on which the national currencies ceased to be legal tender varied from member state to member state.^[4] 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 more. Even after the old currencies ceased to be legal tender, they continued to be accepted by national central banks for periods ranging from ten years to forever.^[11][4]

The security features present in the note are hologram, EURion, watermarks, raised printing, colour changing ink, microprinting, ultraviolet ink, a security thread, matted surface, perforations, see through number, barcodes and a serial number. Its made of Cotton fibre. As of September 2011, there are approximately 1,588,471,700 €100 banknotes in circulation around the Eurozone 17.

History

The euro was set up on 1 January 1999, and then it became the currency of more than 300 million people of Europe.^[4] For the first three years of its existence it was an invisible currency, only used in accountance. Euro banknotes and coins were not introduced until 1 January 2002, when it took over the place of the banknotes and coins of the eurozone 12, as it was then, national currencies like the Irish Pound and the Austrian schilling.^[4]

Legally, both the ECB and the central banks of the eurozone countries holds the right issuing the 7 euro banknotes of 7 values. In practice, only the national central banks of the zone physically issue and withdraw euro banknotes. The ECB do not operate a cash office and isn't involved in any of the cash operations.^[4]

Changes

There has so far only been one series of euro notes, however a new series similar to the current one is to be issued from 2011.^[5] The initial issue of notes bears 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 subsequent issues.^[5]

The 100 euro note have to bear the signature of the president of the ECB. Notes printed after November 2003 show Jean Claude Trichet's signature, replacing that of the first president, Wim Duisenberg, who was the president of the European Central Bank when the first euro banknotes and coins were issued.

As of January 2012, current issues neither reflect the current European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, nor the expansion of the European Union to 27 member states (Cyprus is not depicted on current notes as the map does not extend far enough east and Malta is also missing as it does not meet the current series' minimum size for depiction.^[12] Since the European Central Bank plans to redesign the notes every seven or eight years after each issue, a second series of banknotes is already in preparation. New production and anti-counterfeiting techniques will be employed on the new notes, but the design will be of the same theme and colours identical of the current series; bridges and arches. However, they would still be recognisable as a new series.^[13] Four more abbreviations of the name of the European Central Bank will have to be included on the banknotes: the Bulgarian (ЕЦБ), Hungarian (EKB), Maltese (BĊE) and Polish (EBC). Only the Cyrillic rendering of the name "euro" (ЕВРO) will be added to the new series, since it is ECB policy that the name euro be used in all countries using Latin script.

The first denomination from the new series will be issued in January 2013.^[14] The European Central Bank will, in due time, announce when banknotes from the first series lose legal tender status.^[15]

Design

The banknotes printed from 2012 on will show the signature of the third president of the ECB, Mario Draghi.

The hundred euro note measures at 147 millimetres (5.8 in) × 82 millimetres (3.2 in) and has a green colour scheme.^[5] All bank notes depict bridges and arches/doorways in a different historical European style; the hundred euro note shows the Baroque and Rococo style (between the 17th and 18th century).^[9] 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.^[16]

Like all euro notes, it contains the denomination, the EU flag, the signature of the president of the ECB and the initials of said bank in different EU languages, a depiction of EU territories overseas, the stars from the EU flag and twelve security features as listed below.^[5]

Security features

100-euro banknote under fluorescent light (UV-A)

Obverse

Reverse

The hundred euro note is protected by:

• A hologram,^[9][17]
• A EURion constellation,^[9]
• Watermarks,^[9]
• Microprinting,^[9] Numerous area in the note has Sharp text of tiny size, which is visible through a magnifying glass,. For example, inside the word "EYPΩ", which is the word "euro" in Greek characters.^[18]
• Ultraviolet ink,^[9] The paper of the note doesn't glows when it is under ultraviolet light, however the fibers which are embedded in the paper can be seen when under such light, and have red, blue and green colors. The EU flag and the signature of the ECB President are in the green color. The stars are in orange, however the large stars and the tiny circles on the front on the note glow. The map of Europe, a bridge and the value number on the obverse are in yellow.^[18]
• Raised printing,^[9] Since special methods of printing are used in printing the note, the ink of the main image, the letters and the numerals on the front, is raised and thicker. The raised print can be felt on running fingers above it or scratching it gently by fingernail.^[19]
• A security thread,^{[9] [20]}
• Matted surface,^{[9] [19]}
• Perforations,^[9][20]
• Barcodes,^[9]
• Serial number,^[9]

The 100 euro notes are made of pure cotton fibre, which improves their durability as well as making the banknotes have a distinctive feel.^[3] The printer code is positioned at the right of 9 o'clock star.^[21]

Circulation

As of September 2011, there are approximately 1,588,471,700 €100 banknotes in circulation around the Eurozone 17.^[22] That is approximately €158,847,166,700 worth of €100 banknotes (as of September 2011).^[22] 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.^[22]

Tracking

There are several communities of people at European level like the EuroBillTracker,^[23] that as a hobby keeps a track of the euro banknote that pass through them, so that they can keep a track and know where they travel or have traveled.^[23] This communities aim to record as many notes as possible in order to know details about its spread, like from where and to which place they travel in general; follow it up, like where a banknote has been seen in particular; and generate statistics and rankings, for example, in which countries there are more banknotes.^[23]

References