500 euro note

Five hundred euro
(Eurozone and Institutions)
Value500 euro
Width160 mm
Height82 mm
Security featuresHologram patch with perforations, EURion constellation, watermarks, microprinting, ultraviolet ink, raised printing, security thread, matted surface, see through number, colour-changing ink, barcodes and serial number[1]
Material usedCotton fibre[1]
Years of printing2002–2019[2][3]
Obverse
DesignWindow in Modern architecture[4]
DesignerRobert Kalina[5]
Design date3 December 1996[5]
Reverse
DesignCable-stayed bridge in Modern architecture and map of Europe.[4]
DesignerRobert Kalina[5]
Design date3 December 1996[5]

The five-hundred-euro note (€500) is the highest-value euro banknote; it was produced between the introduction of the euro (in its cash form) in 2002 until 2019. Since 27 April 2019, the banknote has no longer been issued by central banks in the euro area, but it continues to be legal tender and can be used as a means of payment.[6] It is one of the highest-value circulating banknotes in the world, worth around 537 USD; 3,902 CNY; 79,165 JPY; 430 GBP, or 479 CHF as of September 2023. The note is used in the 26 countries which have the euro as their sole currency, with a population of about 343 million.[7]

Initially, the high denomination notes were introduced very rapidly, so that in the first seven years (up to December 2008) there were 530 million five-hundred-euro banknotes in circulation. Subsequently, the rate of increase was radically slowed. In July 2023, there were approximately 281 million banknotes in circulation (decreased from 614 million in 2015). It is the least widely circulated denomination, accounting for 0.9% of the total number of banknotes.[8] It is the largest note, measuring 160 × 82 mm, and has a purple colour scheme.[4] The five-hundred-euro banknotes depict bridges and arches/doorways in modern architecture. [4] The five-hundred-euro note contains several complex security features such as watermarks, invisible ink, holograms and microprinting that make counterfeiting very difficult.

The note is being phased out due to concerns of widespread use for illegal purposes. Most printing of new €500 notes ceased in 2019, although existing notes will remain legal tender until further notice.

  1. ^ a b "ECB: Security Features". European Central Bank. ecb.int. 2002. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Banknotes and coins production". Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. ^ Olivier. (2019, October 6). The end of the 500 euro banknote for January 2019 the end of the 500 euro banknote for January 2019 - numismag https://numismag.com. Numismag. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://numismag.com/en/2019/01/06/the-end-of-the-500-euro-banknote-for-january-2019/
  4. ^ a b c d "ECB: Banknotes". European Central Bank. 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d "Banknotes design". ECB.int. European Central Bank. February 1996. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Banknotes". European Central Bank. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  7. ^ * "Andorran Euro Coins". Eurocoins.co.uk. 2003. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  8. ^ "ECB Statistical Data Warehouse,Reports>ECB/Eurosystem policy>Banknotes and coins statistics>1.Euro banknotes>1.1 Quantities". ECB. European Central Bank.

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