100 euro note

History

The changeover period

Changes

Design

Security features (first series)

• Colour changing ink used on the numeral located on the back of the note, that appears to change colour from purple to brown, when the note is tilted.
• A see through number printed in the top corner of the note, on both sides, appear combine perfectly to form the value numeral when held against the light.
• A hologram, used on the note which appears to see the hologram image change between the value and a window or doorway, but in the background, it appears to be rainbow-coloured concentric circles of micro-letters moving from the centre to the edges of the patch.
• A EURion constellation; the EURion constellation is a pattern of symbols found on a number of banknote designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help software detect the presence of a banknote in a digital image.
• Watermarks, which appear when held up to the light.
• Raised printing in the main image, the lettering and the value numerals on the front of the banknotes will be raised.
• Ultraviolet ink; the paper itself does not glow, fibres embedded in the paper do appear, and be coloured red, blue and green, the EU flag is green and has orange stars, the ECB President's, currently Mario Draghi's, signature turns green, the large stars and small circles on the front glow and the European map, a bridge and the value numeral on the back appear in yellow.
• Microprinting, on various areas of the banknotes there is microprinting, for example, inside the "ΕΥΡΩ" on the front. The micro-text is sharp, but not blurred.
• A security thread, embedded in the banknote paper. The thread will appear as a dark stripe when held up to the light. The word "EURO" and the value is embedded in tiny letters on the thread.
• Perforations in the hologram which will form the euro symbol. There are also small numbers showing the value.
• A matted surface; the note paper is made out of pure cotton, which feels crisp and firm, but not limp or waxy.
• Barcodes,
• A serial number.

  Security features (Europa series)

• Watermark: When the note is held under a normal light source, a portrait of Europa and an electrotype denomination appear on either side.
• Portrait Hologram: When the note is tilted, the silver-coloured holographic stripe reveals the portrait of Europa. The stripe also reveals a window and the value of the banknote.
• Emerald Number: When the note is tilted, the number on the note displays an effect of light that moves up and down. The number also changes colour from emerald green to deep blue.
• Glossy stripe: When the note is tilted, a glossy stripe, situated at the back of the note, showing the value numeral and the euro symbol appears golden or nearly invisible, depending on viewing angle.
• Raised Printing: On the front of the note, there is a series of short raised lines on the left and right edges. The main edge, the lettering and the large value numeral also feel thicker.
• Security Thread: When the note is held against the light, the security thread appears as a dark line. The Euro symbol and the value of the banknote can be seen in tiny white lettering in the thread.
• Portrait Window: When the note is held against the light, the window in the silvery stripe becomes transparent and the portrait of Europa can be seen on both sides of the note.
• Microprint: Tiny letters which can be read with a magnifying glass. The letters should be sharp, not blurred.
• Ultraviolet ink: Some parts of the banknote shine when under UV or UV-C light. These are the stars in the flag, the small circles, the large stars and several other areas on the front. On the back, a quarter of a circle in the centre as well as several other areas glow green. The horizontal serial number and a stripe appear in red.
• Infrared light: Under infrared light, the emerald number, the right side of the main image and the silvery stripe are visible on the obverse of the banknote, while on the reverse, only the denomination and the horizontal serial number are visible.

  Circulation