Guardia di Finanza

How to identify Euro banknotes

Four basic rules: Feel, look, move and check.

Feel: the raised print (special printing processes give banknotes their unique feel) is present on different areas of the banknote and the characteristic raised effect can be easily felt by touching the banknote. Moreover the borders of the € 200 and € 500 banknotes have special tactile elements originally created for use by the blind.

Look: by holding the banknote against the light, it is possible to see a watermark that is achieved by varying the thickness of the paper during the production process in order to obtain a "light and dark" effect. A dark-colored micro-inscribed security thread also runs vertically through the banknote.

There is also a mark, which is printed on the upper left of the front side and the upper right on the back side, in such a way as to form, when observing it against the light, the banknote's face value which can only be viewed in its entirety in this manner.

Tilt: by inclining the bank note, one can see:

- a holographic strip, on which the symbol of the Euro and the face value can be seen;

- an iridescent strip, placed vertically which, when the bank note is held up to the light, will shine and change color slightly;

- a holographic marker (only on € 50, € 100, € 200 and € 500 bank notes) which, when inclined, reveals an image and the face value.

Check: with the use of a loupe, some fine inscriptions (micro-characters) can be seen, which should be sharp and in focus. They are present on both sides of the banknote.
It is also possible to check for the signature of the President of the CEB (Central European Bank); from 1998 to 2003 Willelm F. Duisenberg; his successor is Jean-Claude Trichet.

How to identify metal coins

Some very simple equipment, including a piece of paper or a small magnet, can be used to verify the authenticity of metallic coins.

Coins that leave a mark similar to a pencil, when rubbed against a sheet of white paper,
are surely false.
The 2 and 1 Euro coins also respond weakly if a magnet is applied to the center of the
coin itself, while the external rings of these coins and the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins do not
have magnetic properties.
Usually the patterns on false coins are much less defined and are executed in an
inaccurate manner, since among other things, the motifs impressed along the border of
the coins (stars and value of the coin) are very difficult to reproduce. The inscriptions on the borders of the coins are different for each amount and each European country.
What to do when you are in possession of a false coin or banknote
You must absolutely not spend it, return it or destroy it.
It is recommended you have it examined, consigning it to a bank, post office bank or one of the branches of the Bank of Italy. In these cases, a report will be compiled and it will serve as a receipt in the event experts establish that the money is false.

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