FOLLOWING ON FROM the introduction of the new €5 note in May of last year, the new ‘firm and flexible’ tenner has been unveiled by the European Central Bank today. You won’t be seeing any in the pub this weekend, however — the bills don’t come into general circulation until September of this year.

All of the Euro banknotes are being gradually replaced with new ones: the 2.0 versions are designed to be more resistant to counterfeiting and more durable — meaning they’ll need to be replaced less frequently.

Like the new version of the fiver, the revamped €10 now includes a portrait of ‘Europa’ — a figure from Greek mythology, and the origin of the continent’s name — in the hologram and watermark. The new notes also include an emerald number, which changes colour from emerald green to deep blue when tilted.

Here’s how the old and new designs look, side by side:

Size: 127 x 67mm  [Image: European Central Bank]

Size: 127 x 67mm [Image: European Central Bank]

The new-look bills were unveiled in Frankfurt by ECB board member Yves Mersch, who said the occasion was also an opportunity to “highlight the importance of maintaining people’s trust in the euro”.

“One of the main reasons for introducing a new series of notes is to ensure that everyone who uses them can continue to do so with complete confidence.”

According to the ECB, steps are currently being taken to support the adaptation of cash-handling machines and counterfeit-detecting devices by the September launch. Owners of such devices are being advised to contact their manufacturers to ensure they’re prepared for the changeover.

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