100 euro note

The changeover period during which the former currencies' notes and coins were exchanged for those of the euro lasted about two months, going from 1 January 2002 until 28 February 2002. The official date on which the national currencies ceased to be legal tender varied from member state to member state.[4] The earliest date was in Germany, where the mark officially ceased to be legal tender on 31 December 2001, though the exchange period lasted for two months more. Even after the old currencies ceased to be legal tender, they continued to be accepted by national central banks for periods ranging from ten years to forever.[4][18]

Notes printed before November 2003 bear the signature of the first president of the European Central Bank, Wim Duisenberg, who was replaced on 1 November 2003 by Jean-Claude Trichet, whose signature appears on issues from November 2003 to March 2012. Notes issued after March 2012 bear the signature of the third president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi.[5]

Two series of euro notes are in circulation together. The European Central Bank will, in due course, announce when banknotes from the first series are to lose legal tender status.[19]

The first series notes do not reflect the expansion of the European Union: Cyprus is not depicted on these notes as the map does not extend far enough east, and Malta is also missing as it does not meet the current series' minimum size for depiction.[20] The second series of banknotes has now been issued, with new production and anti-counterfeiting techniques, but the design is of the same theme and colours identical to the first series; bridges and arches. However, they are still recognisable as a new series.[21]

100-euro banknote under fluorescent light (UV-A)

Obverse

Reverse

The hologram on the 100 euro note.

Microprinting on the 100 euro note.

The hundred euro note is protected by:

• Colour changing ink[22] used on the numeral located on the back of the note, that appears to change colour from purple to brown, when the note is tilted.[24]
• A see through number[22] printed in the top corner of the note, on both sides, appear combine perfectly to form the value numeral when held against the light.[25]
• A glossy stripe,[22] situated at the back of the note, showing the value numeral and the euro symbol.[22]
• A hologram,[22] used on the note which appears to see the hologram image change between the value and a window or doorway, but in the background, it appears to be rainbow-coloured concentric circles of micro-letters moving from the centre to the edges of the patch.[24]
• A EURion constellation;[22] the EURion constellation is a pattern of symbols found on a number of banknote designs worldwide since about 1996. It is added to help software detect the presence of a banknote in a digital image.[22]
• Watermarks,[22] which appear when held up to the light.[22]
• Raised printing[22] in the main image, the lettering and the value numerals on the front of the banknotes will be raised.[26]
• Ultraviolet ink;[22] the paper itself does not glow, fibres embedded in the paper do appear, and be coloured red, blue and green, the EU flag is green and has orange stars, the ECB President's, currently Mario Draghi's, signature turns green, the large stars and small circles on the front glow and the European map, a bridge and the value numeral on the back appear in yellow.[27]
• Microprinting,[22] on various areas of the banknotes there is microprinting, for example, inside the "ΕΥΡΩ" (EURO in Greek characters) on the front. The micro-text is sharp, but not blurred.[27]
• A security thread,[22] embedded in the banknote paper. The thread will appear as a dark stripe when held up to the light. The word "EURO" and the value is embedded in tiny letters on the thread.[25]
• Perforations[22] in the hologram which will form the euro symbol. There are also small numbers showing the value.[25]
• A matted surface;[22] the note paper is made out of pure cotton, which feels crisp and firm, but not limp or waxy.[26]
• Barcodes,[22]
• A serial number.[22]

The 100 euro notes are made of pure cotton fibre, which improves their durability as well as giving the banknotes a distinctive feel.[3] The printer code is positioned at the right of 9 o'clock star.[28]