Europa series design
Like the first series, the new banknotes will feature the “ages and styles” design and show windows, doorways and bridges.
Familiar look
The new euro banknotes belong to the same design “family” as the first series. But the banknotes have been visually modified to give them a fresh look and to accommodate some new and enhanced security features. This will also make it easy to distinguish between the two series. A banknote designer based in Berlin, Reinhold Gerstetter, was selected to refresh the design of the euro banknotes.
The new €5 banknote will be unveiled in full on 10 January 2013.
A human face
Portraits have traditionally been used on banknotes all over the world. Research has shown that people tend to recognise faces easily. This is why a portrait of Europa, a figure from Greek mythology, was chosen to feature in the watermark and the hologram of the new banknotes.
The portrait has an obvious link to the continent of Europe and also adds a human touch to the banknotes. It was taken from an image of Europa on an ancient vase in the Louvre.
Ages and styles
The new banknotes are based on the “ages and styles” design of the first series of euro banknotes created by Robert Kalina. It features windows, doorways and bridges that show architectural styles from seven periods in Europe’s cultural history. The banknotes do not, however, show any actual existing monuments or bridges.
The windows and doorways stand for Europe’s spirit of openness and cooperation. The bridges symbolise the close cooperation and communication among the people of Europe and between Europe and the rest of the world.
The architectural styles of the different denominations are as follows:
€5: Classical
€10: Romanesque
€20: Gothic
€50: Renaissance
€100: Baroque and rococo
€200: The age of iron and glass architecture
€500: 20th century architecture