0 Euro - Lourdes

The zero euro souvenir note program, administered by the UEEM and printed by Oberthur Fiduciaire, has no legal tender status anywhere — these are sold directly to tourists as collectibles, with face value kept at zero precisely to sidestep European Central Bank regulations on currency issuance. Lourdes, drawing millions of Catholic pilgrims annually, is an obvious target location for the series. Oberthur applies genuine banknote security features to each note despite the purely commercial purpose, which is part of the program's appeal to collectors who want the tactile experience of currency-grade intaglio printing without the pretense of monetary function.