200 euro note

Two hundred euro

(Eurozone and Institutions)
Value:	200 euro
Width:	153[1] mm
Height:	82[1] mm
Security Features:	A hologram stripe, a EURion constellation, watermarks, microprinting, ultraviolet ink, raised printing, a security thread, matted surface, perforations, see through number, colour changing ink, barcodes and a serial number.[2]
Paper Type:	Cotton fibre[2]
Years of Printing:	2002 – present[3]
Obverse
Design:	Window in an Art Nouveau style[4]
Designer:	Robert Kalina[5]
Design Date:	3 December 1996[5]
Reverse
Design:	Bridge in an Art Nouveau style and map of Europe[4]
Designer:	Robert Kalina[5]
Design Date:	3 December 1996[5]
v t e

The two hundred euro note (€200) is the second-highest value euro banknote and has been used since the introduction of the euro (in its cash form) in 2002.^[6] The note is used in the 22 countries which have it as their sole currency (with 20 legally adopting it); with a population of about 332 million.^[7]

It is the second-largest note measuring 153x82mm and has a yellow colour scheme.^[4] The two hundred euro banknotes depict bridges and arches/doorways in Art Nouveau style (between the 19th and 20th century).

The two hundred euro note contains several complex security features such as watermarks, invisible ink, holograms and microprinting that document its authenticity. In September 2011, there were approximately 178,838,200 two hundred euro banknotes in circulation around the Eurozone.

History

Before the introduction

The euro was set up on 1 January 1999, when it became the currency of over 300 million people in Europe.^[3] For the first three years of its existence it was an invisible currency, only used in accountance. Euro cash was not introduced until 1 January 2002, when it replaced the banknotes and coins of the eurozone 12, as it was then, national currencies like the Irish Pound and the Austrian schilling.^[3]

After the introduction

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.^[3] 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.^[8][3]

Changes

There has so far only been one series of euro notes, however a second series of euro notes is predicted to be introduced over the next few years.^[9] The initial issue of notes bears the signature of the 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.^[4]

Design

200 euro banknote under fluorescent light (UV-A)

Obverse

Reverse

The two hundred euro note measures at 153 millimetres (6.0 in) × 82 millimetres (3.2 in) with a yellow colour scheme.^[4] All bank notes depict bridges and arches/doorways in a different historical European style; the two hundred euro note shows the Art Noveau era (between the nineteenth and twentieth century CE).^[1] 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.^[10]

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.^[4]

Security features

The two hundred euro note is protected by a hologram stripe, a EURion constellation, watermarks, microprinting, ultraviolet ink, raised printing, a security thread, matted surface, perforations, see through number, colour changing ink, barcodes and a serial number.^[1]

Circulation

Holograms of the 200 euro note, but each under different positions.

The €200 banknote is the least used banknote in the Eurozone.^[11] As of September 2011, there are approximately 178,838,200 €200 banknotes in circulation around the Eurozone 17.^[11] That is approximately €35,767,638,400 worth of €200 banknotes (as of September 2011).^[11] 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.^[11]

Legal information

Legally, both the European Central Bank and the central banks of the eurozone countries have the right to issue the 7 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.^[3]

Environmental impact

When trying to be an environmentally-friendly institution, the European Central Bank tries to make a minor use of natural resources, to try to keep the quality of the world as it is and to try to conserve people's health in the production and supplying of euro notes.^[12]

Euro notes are said safe to use according to independent test results, which confirmed that euro notes fulfilled all European Union regulations including a large range of chemical substances in euro notes.^[12] All substances in the notes have shown a concentration below any limit.^[12]

Tracking

There are several communities of hobbyists, such as EuroBillTracker,^[13] which track the euro notes as they pass through their hands, to record their numbers and monitor their travel.^[13] Their aim is to record is to ascertain details about its spread and to generate statistics and rankings for various notes.^[13] EuroBillTracker had registered over 96 million notes as of October 2011.^[14]

References