Page 623 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  621

The Euro and the lira was phased out by the Eurozone countries, each one
The euro (€) is the common March 2002. including designs of fictional
currency of the European Union. EU members using the Euro as architectural structures. The coins,
It came into general circulation sole official currency are known as however, have one side identical
on 1 January 2002, initially for the Eurozone. Several EU mem­ (the value side) and one side with
twelve participating countries. bers have opted out of joining an image unique to each country.
Italy was one of those twelve this common currency. Euro Notes and coins are exchange­
countries taking the euro, notes are identical through out able in each participating country.

Bank Notes
Euro bank notes have seven
denominations. The €5 note (grey
in colour) is the smallest, followed by
the €10 note (pink), €20 note (blue), €50
note (orange), €100 note (green), €200
note (yellow) and €500 note (purple).
All notes show the 12 stars of the
European Union. €5 note

€10 note

€20 note

€50 note

€100 note

€200 note

€500 note

€2 coin €1 coin 50 cents 20 cents 10 cents

Coins
The euro has eight coin denominations: €1 and
€2; 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents
and 1 cent. The €2 and €1 coins are both silver
and gold in colour. The 50­, 20­ and 10­cent coins
are gold. The 5­, 2­ and 1­cent coins are bronze. 5 cents 2 cents 1 cent

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