500 euro note
| Country | Eurozone (mainly) and other countries |
|---|---|
| Value | 500 euro |
| Width | 160 mm |
| Height | 82 mm |
| Security features | Hologram patch with perforations, EURion constellation, watermarks, microprinting, ultraviolet ink, raised printing, security thread, matted surface, see through number, colour-changing ink, barcodes and serial number[1] |
| Material used | Cotton fibre[1] |
| Years of printing | 1999–2014[2][a] |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Window in Modern architecture[3] |
| Designer | Robert Kalina[4] |
| Design date | 3 December 1996[4] |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge in Modern architecture and map of Europe.[3] |
| Designer | Robert Kalina[4] |
| Design date | 3 December 1996[4] |
The five-hundred-euro note (€500) is the highest-value euro banknote; it was produced from the introduction of the euro (in its cash form) in 2002 to 2019. Since 27 April 2019, the banknote has no longer been issued by central banks in the euro area, but it continues to be legal tender and can be used as a means of payment.[5]
It is one of the highest-value circulating banknotes in the world, worth very roughly 600 USD, 85,000 JPY, 400 GBP, or 500 CHF.[b] The note is used in the 26 countries that have it as their sole currency (with 25 legally adopting it, excluding Montenegro), of which countries have a total population of about 350 million currently.[6]
Initially, the high denomination notes were introduced very rapidly, so that in the first seven years (up to December 2008) there were 530 million five-hundred-euro banknotes in circulation. Subsequently, the rate of increase was radically slowed. In July 2023, there were approximately 281 million banknotes in circulation (decreased from 614 million in 2015). It is the least widely circulated denomination, accounting for 0.9% of the total number of banknotes.[7]
It is the largest note, measuring 160 × 82 mm, and has a purple colour scheme.[3] The note depicts bridges and arches/doorways in modern architecture.[3] The €500 note contains several complex security features such as watermarks, invisible ink, holograms and microprinting that make counterfeiting very difficult.
The note is being phased out due to concerns of widespread use for illegal purposes. Printing of new €500 notes ceased in 2019, although existing notes will remain legal tender until further notice.
- ^ a b "ECB: Security Features". European Central Bank. ecb.int. 2002. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ^ "€500 note gets last print run". Archived from the original on 14 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d "ECB: Banknotes". European Central Bank. 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Banknotes design". ECB.int. European Central Bank. February 1996. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Banknotes". European Central Bank. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^
- "ECB: Map of euro area". ECB. ecb.int. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- "By monetary agreement between France (acting for the EC) and Monaco". 31 May 2002. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- "By monetary agreement between Italy (acting for the EC) and San Marino". 27 July 2001. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- "By monetary agreement between Italy (acting for the EC) and Vatican City". 25 October 2001. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- "By monetary agreement between European Union and the Principality of Andorra". 17 December 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "ECB Statistical Data Warehouse, Reports>ECB/Eurosystem policy>Banknotes and coins statistics>1.Euro banknotes>1.1 Quantities". ECB. European Central Bank.
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