Confirming whether euro banknotes are real or fake doesn’t have to be complicated, but it also shouldn’t rely on a single detail. The Bank of Portugal (BdP) and the European Central Bank (ECB) explain that the safest verification is quick and is based on several security elements, easy to observe on a daily basis.
The rule of thumb is simple: use the touch, watch and tilt method and, on Europa series notes, pay attention to the emerald number in the lower left corner of the front, which should change color from emerald green to dark blue when the note is tilted, according to Banco de Portugal.
Official method in 10 seconds
The ECB recommends that several security elements are always confirmed and, if there is any doubt, that the banknote be compared with another that is known to be genuine. The same principle is reinforced in the BdP’s guidelines for the public.
In the playing step, the idea is to feel the paper and the relief impression, which can be seen in specific areas of the note. On the Europa series banknotes, there are also small raised lines along the margins, useful for quick checking.
In the observe step, the note must be viewed against the light to confirm elements such as the watermark and the security thread. In the €20, €50, €100 and €200 denominations of the Europa series, there is also a portrait window on the holographic band that becomes transparent when viewed against the light, according to the same source.
Emerald number
The emerald number is the shiny number in the lower left corner of the front of the note and is present on the Europa series notes. When tilting the note, this number should show a luminous effect of upward and downward movement and, depending on the angle of observation, change color from emerald green to dark blue.
If the note does not exhibit this behavior, the official guidance is not to trust a single isolated signal. The right thing to do is to immediately compare it with a genuine note and, while remaining cautious, also check other elements.
On the €100 and €200 notes, the emerald number is described as improved and may include euro symbols inside, an additional detail that is also confirmed with the tilted note, according to the previously cited source.
Other quick signs that help in everyday life
The holographic portrait band on the front displays Europe’s portrait, euro symbol, architectural motif and value. On the €20 and €50 notes, the portrait window adds a very practical checkpoint when viewing against the light and when tilting the note. On the back, the iridescent band is another element that must react when the note is tilted in strong light. BdP describes this behavior as part of the quick check suite.
When is it easier to “escape” a suspicious note
The risk increases especially when you receive change in a hurry and there is no time to look carefully. This is why authorities insist on simple, repeatable routines, always done the same way. If you have not yet accepted the note, the BdP’s recommendation is not to accept the cash and inform the competent authorities.
If you have already accepted it by mistake, do not put it back into circulation. The BdP warns that circulating a counterfeit note constitutes a crime and indicates that the suspicious note must be handed over to the police authorities, a bank or the bank itself. If the note is genuine, the amount is refunded.
The ECB gives the same practical guidance and adds an essential point: don’t put yourself at risk. The priority is always personal safety.
Also read:
