• The new fifty-euro notes enter into circulation from today
• The first series of fifty-euro notes, which have been used until now, will continue to be valid
• The new fifty-euro note has the same security features as the new five, ten and twenty-euro notes, the most obvious of which is the transparent portrait window
• The authenticity of the banknotes can be checked using the simple look, feel, tilt method

From today, Eesti Pank is issuing the new fifty-euro banknote with improved security features and a new design through the commercial banks. The most eye-catching change to the fifty-euro notes of the new series is the transparent portrait window on the right of the note with a portrait of Europa.

Several security features – the watermark portrait of Europa and the hologrammic strip, the emerald green number, and the short raised lines on the edge of the note – are like those on the five, ten and twenty-euro notes of the new series.

“The first new fifty-euro notes are on their way to the banks from Eesti Pank today. From the banks they will be passed to merchants and cash machines and from there they will go to the wallets and pockets of the general public”, said Rait Roosve, Head of the Cash and Infrastructure Department at Eesti Pank.

He emphasised that the new note with its new design and security features is legal tender and traders may not refuse it even if they have not updated their authentication equipment. “Merchants can check the authenticity of the new notes by looking at and feeling the security features on the notes”, he explained.

The central banks of the euro area will continue releasing fifty-euro banknotes of the first series at the same time until stocks have run out. Five, ten, twenty and fifty-euro banknotes of the first series continue to be valid for payment, This means they do not need to be exchanged as they can still be used for paying in shops and elsewhere.

All the banknotes of the first series will keep their value indefinitely, though at some point it will no longer be possible to use them for paying in shops. When this point has been decided on, it will be announced and publicised well in advance. After this point, it will only be possible to exchange the notes of the first series for new ones at Eesti Pank and other central banks of the euro area, and there will be no limit on how long this can be done for.

Pictures and videos of the new €50 note can be found at http://www.new-euro-banknotes.eu/.

How can the security features of the banknote be checked?

Look. Against the light, a watermark of a portrait becomes visible on the left-hand side underneath the signature of Mario Draghi and the flag of the European Union. Looking at the note against the light reveals a portrait of Europa in the window, which can be seen from both sides of the note. 

Feel. The new fifty-euro note has raised lines along the right and left edges that can be felt with a finger and it is made of strong, crisp paper.

Tilt. There is an emerald-green number printed on the lower left side of the note, which changes colour from green to dark blue when the note is tilted. When the banknote is tilted, the hologrammic strip reveals the portrait of Europa, the number 50, the euro symbol, and a design of a doorway or a window.

Additional information:
Ingrid Mitt
Public Relations Office
Tel: 668 0965
Email: [email protected]
Press enquiries: [email protected]