The Euro - a cultural disaster or just plain boring?
The European Central Bank is currently going through a process of developing and releasing the second-generation “Europa” series of Euro banknotes. The last two to be released, the new €100 and €200 banknotes, have just been unveiled by the ECB and should be in circulation across the eurozone by next May. The earlier highest denomination note, the €500, will not be renewed and will gradually be phased out from general circulation, leaving only six notes in the series.
As well as various holograms in a silver strip and an “emerald number” showing the denomination, these new banknotes also include the latest anti-counterfeiting features.
There are now 19 EU countries that comprise the eurozone and each one has surrendered the right to its own national currency and the design and production of its own banknotes. But by doing so have we lost a source of great cultural value?
Traditionally, nations have used their banknotes to promote their identity and sense of national pride. Most banknotes feature famous people, historic buildings, famous monuments, national flora and fauna, national sports, industries, and so on – and most nationals can usually tell you what is featured on each of their country’s banknote.
But if you ask a Eurozone national what is the theme and content on each of the euronotes, the majority will only offer you a blank expression and a shrug of their shoulders!
The original concept for the Euro design was a banknote series that would become a tangible symbol of Europe. When the design competition for the Euro was launched in 1996, the images on the banknotes were not allowed to reflect any national bias, and for that reason the designers were not allowed to include anything that highlighted a specific country such as the Eiffel Tower. The “no national bias” criteria meant that even depicting wildlife, fish and plants were forbidden, unless the living organism could be found in all member states of the EU.
The end result was a series of banknotes with composite illustrations of various styles of architecture which are described by the ECB as “inspired by the architectural styles of seven periods in Europe’s cultural history,”. None of the structures depicted on any of the notes actually exist.
So did the EU, by trying to eliminate national prejudice and to avoid offending anyone, and in spite of its state-of-the-art-security measures, actually end up creating the “dullest banknotes in the history of currency”?
On the other hand, as cash becomes increasingly replaced by electronic payments, does it really matter in the slightest?
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) It was already lined up for a rise with being above both the 1H and the 4H 200 SMA’s and all other MA’s in the correct order. Basically, a continuation of the setup that started yesterday. Question is, as usual, how far, if at all, will it continue…
