0 Euro - Nemery and Calmejane - Albi-Cite - Episcopale

The zero-euro souvenir note format was launched in France in 2015 by Richard Faille, who recognized that euro banknotes had become objects of quiet fascination for a collecting public with no legal means to acquire real ECB-issued notes outside of circulation. By pricing them as souvenirs rather than securities, the scheme sidestepped any regulatory conflict while producing genuinely collectible material — printed by Oberthur Fiduciaire with genuine security features including the same intaglio printing used on circulating euro denominations.

This example commemorates the Cité Épiscopale d'Albi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. Nemery and Calmejane are the licensed issuer-distributor pair behind this specific release — regional operators account for the majority of zero-euro titles, and print runs vary considerably, with some regional issues numbering fewer than 5,000 pieces.