ECB Announces New €20 Bill, Uses Game Of Tetris To Promote Its Security Features

Just a few hours ago, Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank, unveiled the new €20 banknote at the ECB in Frankfurt. A live webcast was available in the ECB site. Below, you’ll find a video featuring the new bill and its security features (also promoted through a Tetris game).

In his unveiling speech, Mr. Draghi said, “the euro notes that we use every day are the most tangible symbols of European integration. The introduction of a new banknote serves as a reminder that this integration is an ongoing process (…) the inclusion of the mythological figure Europa, who gave her name to our continent, shows how Europe draws on its shared history.”

He then explained the reason behind the creation of this new bill: “introducing a new banknote isn’t just change for the sake of change. Every central bank needs to upgrade its banknotes periodically to benefit from advances in banknote technology and to maintain their integrity. The new note includes a feature which you won’t have seen before. It is called the “portrait window” and is a real innovation in banknote technology.”

“In total, there are now 17.5 billion euro banknotes in circulation; the total value of these banknotes reached €1,000 billion for the first time in December 2014," Draghi added. The new €20 notes will enter into circulation on 25 November this year. It is expected that, by the date of the launch, 4.3 billion such banknotes will be printed.

The new €20 bill is the third denomination in the Europa series (following the introduction of a the €5 bill in 2013 and the new €10 bill in 2014), which is gradually replacing the original Euro banknotes introduced in 2002. “It will be followed, over time, by new versions of the €50, €100, €200 and €500 notes,” Draghi assured.