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5 Euros
| Issuer | European Central Bank |
|---|---|
| Year | 2002 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Cotton paper |
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| Obverse description | Classical architectural gateway vignette at right in intaglio, with a large numeral '5' overlaid; EU flag hologram at upper left with the ECB acronyms in multiple languages along the top border. Denomination and bilingual inscription in Greek and Latin scripts appear at lower left against a grey-olive guilloche underprint. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Roman aqueduct vignette rendered in fine intaglio occupies the left portion, with a map of Europe in the centre-right field. Denomination numeral '5' appears at lower right; bilingual legends in Latin and Greek script at lower left and right borders. |
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| Comments |
The 2002 euro introduction was the largest currency changeover in history — twelve countries simultaneously withdrew their legacy currencies and introduced euro banknotes within weeks. The 5 euro was the lowest denomination and absorbed the heaviest circulation pressure from day one, meaning early-dated examples in anything above Fine are harder to find than the small face value suggests.
Robert Kalina's winning design was selected from a 1996 competition run by the European Monetary Institute. His original sketches featured real European bridges and architectural monuments, but the final brief required fictional structures to avoid favoring any member state — a political compromise that defined the entire series.