How to Spot a Fake Euro Note in Ten Seconds
Compiled and fact-checked from cited sources, reviewed by our editorial team.
You do not need a magnifier, a UV lamp or a machine to check a euro note. The European Central Bank’s official method has three steps and takes about ten seconds: feel, look, tilt. The features you check in those three steps are precisely the ones counterfeiters find hardest to reproduce.
The numbers first, because it helps to size the risk properly. In 2025, 444,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation — a 20% drop on 2024. That works out at just 14 counterfeits per million genuine notes in circulation, one of the lowest ratios since the euro launched. So fakes are rare — but rare is not the same as never, and around 80% of them are €20 and €50 notes. Counterfeiters deliberately pick the denominations that change hands fast and get the least scrutiny.
First: there are two series, and both are genuine
The most common reason people suspect a euro note is not counterfeiting at all — it is that two different series circulate side by side, and both are legal tender.
The first series (2002). Windows and doorways on the front, a bridge and a map of Europe on the back. No portrait of Europa. The watermark shows the main image and the value. On the €50 and above, the number in the bottom-right corner of the back is a colour-changing number that shifts from purple to olive green or brown.
The Europa series (2013-2019). Named after the figure from Greek mythology whose portrait appears in its security features. It was rolled out gradually: €5 in 2013, €10 in 2014, €20 in 2015, €50 in 2017, and finally €100 and €200 on 28 May 2019. Every note in this series carries Europa’s portrait in both the watermark and the hologram, plus an emerald number in the bottom-left corner.
So if a note looks unfamiliar, check which series it belongs to before assuming the worst. An older note is not fake — it is simply older, and shops and banks still take it.
About the €500. No Europa series €500 was ever printed; the ECB took that decision in 2016 and production and issuance stopped entirely in 2019. The old €500 note nonetheless remains legal tender indefinitely and can be exchanged at euro area central banks. So do not treat one as void — but because it is now so rarely seen, give it extra scrutiny.
Step 1 — FEEL
Hold the note between your fingers. This step needs no equipment, and it is how experienced cashiers catch most fakes.
The paper. Genuine euro notes are printed on 100% cotton fibre — no wood pulp. Your hand reads that as crisp, firm and slightly springy. Counterfeits usually feel soft, limp, sometimes waxy or too slippery; they crease easily and the crease stays.
Raised print. On the front, the main image, the lettering and the large value numeral feel thicker under your fingertip. That is intaglio printing: the ink stands proud of the paper. Run a fingernail lightly across it and you should feel the texture.
Raised lines at the edges. Europa series notes have a series of short raised lines along the left and right edges of the front. They are both a security feature and a tactile aid for blind and partially sighted users. The first series does not have them.
Step 2 — LOOK (hold it up to the light)
Raise the note towards any light source; a window or a ceiling lamp will do.
The watermark. In the Europa series you will see Europa’s portrait, the value and the main image appear inside the paper. In the first series there is no portrait, just the value and the main image. The key distinction: a genuine watermark is created by varying the thickness of the paper, so it has soft gradations and is visible from both sides. On fakes the watermark is usually printed onto the surface in grey — faintly visible even without backlighting, and with hard edges.
The security thread. Held to the light, it appears as a dark line running through the note. Inside that line, tiny white lettering spells out the value together with the word “EURO” (first series) or the € symbol (Europa series). On counterfeits the thread is often a plain grey line with no legible text.
The portrait window. On the Europa series €20, €50, €100 and €200, the window near the top of the hologram becomes transparent against the light and reveals Europa’s portrait, visible from both sides of the note. It is one of the hardest features to fake — on counterfeits the window is either opaque or shows no portrait. The €5 and €10 do not have it.
The see-through number. First series only: the incomplete marks in the top-left corner of the front and the top-right corner of the back line up perfectly against the light to form the value. Any misalignment is a warning.
Step 3 — TILT
Rock the note back and forth under a light. This is the step that separates genuine from fake most decisively, because photocopiers and inkjet printers cannot reproduce optical effects.
On the Europa series:
- Portrait hologram. The silvery stripe on the right reveals Europa’s portrait, the note’s main image and its value as you tilt. If the stripe stays a flat silver surface, it is fake.
- Emerald number. A bar of light travels up and down the shiny numeral in the bottom-left corner, and the numeral shifts from emerald green to deep blue. This feature is on every denomination of the series, from €5 to €200.
- Satellite hologram. On the €100 and €200 only: at the top of the silvery stripe, small € symbols circle around the value numeral. They become clearer under direct light. This is the newest and hardest-to-copy feature in the series.
- Portrait window when tilted. Rainbow-coloured lines move around the value numeral in the window; on the back, rainbow-coloured value numerals appear inside it.
On the first series:
- Hologram. On the €5, €10 and €20 it shows the value and the € symbol; on the €50 and above, the value and a window or doorway.
- Glossy stripe. On the back of the €5, €10 and €20, tilting reveals a gold-coloured stripe showing the value and the € symbol.
- Colour-changing number. On the €50 and above, the numeral in the bottom-right of the back shifts from purple to olive green or brown.
Never rely on a single feature. A good counterfeit can imitate one of the three convincingly. The ECB's own position is that detection devices cannot entirely replace the user's own judgement based on the security features. So do all three steps, and where you can, compare the note with a genuine one of the same denomination in your wallet. Side by side, the difference shows up in seconds.
Denomination by denomination
| Note | Colour / architecture | Size (Europa) | Size (first series) | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €5 | Grey, classical | 120 × 62 mm | 120 × 62 mm | Emerald number, portrait hologram; no portrait window |
| €10 | Red, Romanesque | 127 × 67 mm | 127 × 67 mm | Emerald number, portrait hologram; no portrait window |
| €20 | Blue, Gothic | 133 × 72 mm | 133 × 72 mm | First note with the portrait window; the most counterfeited |
| €50 | Orange, Renaissance | 140 × 77 mm | 140 × 77 mm | Portrait window; second most counterfeited |
| €100 | Green, Baroque/Rococo | 147 × 77 mm | 147 × 82 mm | Satellite hologram; € symbols inside the emerald number |
| €200 | Yellow-brown, iron and glass | 153 × 77 mm | 153 × 82 mm | Satellite hologram; € symbols inside the emerald number |
| €500 | Purple, modern architecture | — (never issued) | 160 × 82 mm | First series only; not issued since 2019, still legal tender |
That 5 mm difference in height is not accidental. In the Europa series the €100 and €200 were brought down to the same height as the €50 (77 mm) so they fit cash drawers and counting machines better. This is useful even without a ruler: a new €100 is visibly shorter than an old one. If you are holding a note with the new design that is nonetheless 82 mm tall, that is a serious warning sign.
Note also that the euro comes in seven denominations only. If someone hands you a €15, €25 or €1,000 note, there is nothing to examine — no such note exists.
Checking €1 and €2 coins
Coins get discussed far less than notes, but €1 and €2 are both counterfeited, because both are bimetallic and both are used in vending machines.
The magnet test — the most practical check. The inner core of a genuine €1 or €2 is slightly magnetic; the outer ring is not. Bring a magnet close and the coin clings weakly, but falls off easily when you shake it. Fakes tend to sit at one extreme or the other: either they stick firmly (too much iron) or they do not respond at all.
Weight and size. A genuine €2 weighs 8.50 g and measures 25.75 mm across; a €1 weighs 7.50 g and measures 23.25 mm. A kitchen scale accurate to 0.1 g settles the question on its own.
Edge lettering. The inscription on the edge of a €2 differs by country (EINIGKEIT UND RECHT UND FREIHEIT in Germany, stars in Greece, GOD ZIJ MET ONS in the Netherlands). On fakes it is missing, shallow, or the letters are malformed. Line up two genuine coins with the same national side and the edge lettering aligns.
Sharpness of detail. Under a magnifier the map of Europe on a genuine €1 or €2 is made up of very fine dots in negative relief. On fakes the relief is flat, the letters thick and the surface dull. A blurred transition between the core and the ring is another common giveaway.
Sound. Dropped on a hard surface, a genuine coin rings with a high, sustained tone; a fake usually gives a dull thud. Not proof on its own, but meaningful alongside the other checks.
Tests that do not work — or actively mislead
The counterfeit detection pen. These pens contain iodine, which reacts with the starch in wood-pulp paper. Euro notes are 100% cotton and contain no starch, so a genuine note leaves no mark. The problem is that a counterfeit printed on starch-free paper leaves no mark either. A “clean” pen result proves nothing.
A cheap UV lamp. Useful, but not sufficient on its own, and the most widely misunderstood test. Here is what actually happens: the paper itself does not glow — it stays dark. What glows are individual elements: red, blue and green fibres embedded in the paper, the stars of the EU flag, the small circles and large stars in yellow; on the back, a quarter-circle in the centre in green; and the horizontal serial number and a stripe in red. Ordinary copier paper contains optical brighteners, so it glows blue-white all over — and that contrast is the real tell.
Checking the serial number. Euro serial numbers do contain a mathematical check structure, but a valid serial number does not prove a note is genuine: counterfeiters simply copy the serial from a real note in circulation. A serial number tells you something when it is wrong, and nothing when it is right.
“It came out of a cash machine, so it must be real.” Usually true, but not a guarantee — the chain that loads an ATM can be long. The rule stands: check it where you get it.
What to do if you think a note is counterfeit
This part matters as much as recognising the note, because the wrong instinct can turn you from victim into suspect.
- 1. Do not hand it backDo not return the suspect note to the person who gave it to you, and above all do not spend it. Passing on a note you know to be counterfeit is a separate offence in every euro area country.
- 2. Note the detailsWrite down who gave it to you, where and when. Receipts, card slips or the location of possible CCTV all help.
- 3. Hand it inTake it to the police or to your bank. Banks are obliged to withdraw suspect notes and pass them to the national central bank for analysis.
- 4. Get a receiptAsk for written confirmation of what you handed over. That document is your evidence of good faith.
What the law says. Producing, importing, transporting, keeping or circulating counterfeit currency is a serious crime everywhere in the EU. The provision that catches ordinary people is a different one: passing on a note after you know it is fake. In France that is punishable under article 442-7 of the Penal Code; in Italy under article 457 of the Codice penale (up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine up to €1,032); in Spain under article 386 of the Código Penal. Receiving a counterfeit without knowing is not an offence anywhere — trying to get rid of it once you know is.
Nobody reimburses you. When a counterfeit is handed in, you are not paid its face value — not by the bank, not by the central bank, not by insurance. The loss falls on whoever is holding it. That is exactly why the moment that matters is when you take the money: check the note while the other person is still in front of you.
When the risk is highest
Buying currency outside the banking system. Street deals and informal exchanges offering “a better rate than the bank”. The more attractive the rate, the more carefully you should look. Money bought from a bank or a licensed bureau leaves a paper trail and a party you can go back to.
Change in tourist areas. Busy counters, hurried transactions, change counted out quickly. Do not feel awkward about examining a note — across the euro area this is completely normal behaviour.
Private sales. Cars, phones, furniture — large sums in cash, handed over face to face. Where possible, do these transactions inside a bank branch: the counting machine both counts and authenticates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spot a fake euro note? Use the European Central Bank’s three-step method: feel (the paper should be crisp and firm, the main image and numeral raised), look (held to the light you should see Europa’s portrait in the watermark and a dark security thread with the € symbol in it), tilt (Europa’s portrait should appear in the silvery stripe and the emerald number should shift from green to blue). Do all three.
How do I know a euro note is genuine? A genuine note is printed on 100% cotton, has raised print you can feel, has a watermark inside the paper that is visible from both sides, and has a hologram and emerald number that move when tilted. If all four are present, the note is genuine.
Can I check a euro note without any equipment? Yes — the whole method works with bare hands and ordinary light. The ECB itself notes that detection devices cannot entirely replace the user’s own judgement.
What is the fastest single check? Tilting the note. Photocopiers and inkjet printers cannot produce optical effects, so if the silvery stripe stays flat or the emerald number does not change colour, no further checking is needed.
How do I spot a fake €5 note? The €5 has no portrait window, so concentrate on the emerald number and the silvery stripe: the numeral in the bottom-left should shift from green to blue as you tilt, and Europa’s portrait should appear in the stripe. It measures 120 × 62 mm, is grey, and shows classical architecture.
How do I spot a fake €10 note? The €10 also has no portrait window. Look for Europa in the watermark, the € symbol and value inside the security thread, and the emerald number bottom-left. It measures 127 × 67 mm, is red, and shows Romanesque architecture.
How do I spot a fake €20 note? The €20 is the most counterfeited denomination, so it deserves the closest look. The Europa series introduced the portrait window on this note: hold the window above the hologram to the light and it should turn transparent and show Europa’s portrait from both sides. It measures 133 × 72 mm and is blue.
How do I spot a fake €50 note? Check the portrait window, the Europa watermark and the emerald number. If yours is a first series €50 there will be no portrait window; instead the back has a colour-changing number that shifts from purple to green in the bottom-right corner. Both are valid. It measures 140 × 77 mm.
How do I spot a fake €100 note? The €100 gives you two extra weapons: the satellite hologram (€ symbols circling the numeral at the top of the silvery stripe) and € symbols visible inside the emerald number. Check the size too: the new €100 is 147 × 77 mm while the first series is 147 × 82 mm. A note with the new design that is 82 mm tall is a serious red flag.
How do I spot a fake €200 note? The same features as the €100 apply: satellite hologram, € symbols inside the emerald number, portrait window. The new size is 153 × 77 mm; the first series was 153 × 82 mm.
How do I spot a fake €500 note? Only the first series €500 exists — no Europa series version was ever printed. So a genuine €500 has no portrait window, emerald number or satellite hologram. Check instead for the 160 × 82 mm size, the purple colour, modern architecture, a hologram showing the value and a window motif, and the colour-changing number bottom-right on the back. A €500 bearing Europa’s portrait is certainly fake.
Is the €500 note still valid? Yes. Production and issuance stopped in 2019, but it remains legal tender indefinitely and can be exchanged at euro area central banks. Many businesses are nonetheless reluctant to accept it.
How do I tell if a €1 or €2 coin is fake? The magnet test is the most practical: the core of a genuine coin is weakly magnetic, so it clings lightly but shakes off easily. A coin that sticks firmly, or does not respond at all, is suspect. Weight is decisive too: €2 is 8.50 g and €1 is 7.50 g. Also check that the edge lettering is present and crisply formed.
Do counterfeit detection pens work on euros? Not reliably. They detect starch in wood-pulp paper; euro notes are 100% cotton so a genuine note shows nothing — but neither does a fake printed on starch-free paper. A clean pen result does not make a note genuine.
Do genuine euro notes glow under UV light? The paper itself does not glow — it stays dark, and that is the real tell. Individual elements do glow: three-coloured fibres embedded in the paper, the stars of the EU flag and small circles in yellow, a quarter-circle on the back in green, and the horizontal serial number in red. Ordinary paper glows blue-white all over.
Can the serial number tell me a note is fake? Only partly. Euro serial numbers contain a check structure, but counterfeiters copy the serial from a genuine note. A wrong serial tells you something; a correct one proves nothing.
My euro note looks different from the ones I know — is it fake? Probably not. The first series (2002) and the Europa series (2013-2019) circulate together and both are valid. The Europa series has Europa’s portrait, the portrait window and the emerald number; the first series has neither, but does have the see-through number and the colour-changing number.
Which euro note is counterfeited most? The €20 and the €50. Around 80% of the counterfeits withdrawn in 2025 were those two denominations, because they move fast in everyday retail and get the least scrutiny.
How common are counterfeit euros? 444,000 counterfeit notes were withdrawn in 2025, 20% fewer than in 2024. That is 14 counterfeits for every million genuine notes in circulation. Some 96.8% of them were found inside the euro area.
If I hand a counterfeit in to my bank, do I get my money back? No. Counterfeits are not reimbursed; the loss stays with whoever is holding the note. It is withdrawn and sent to the national central bank for analysis.
How many countries use the euro? With Bulgaria joining on 1 January 2026, the euro area now has 21 member countries. The euro is also used in a number of countries and territories outside the area.
Is a new euro series coming? Yes, a third series is in preparation. The ECB shortlisted two themes at the start of 2025: “European culture” and “Rivers and birds”. A final design decision is expected by the end of 2026, with the notes themselves expected to appear around 2028. Until then both existing series remain valid.
Sources
- European Central Bank — Security features of euro banknotes (feel, look, tilt). https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/security/html/index.en.html
- European Central Bank — Number of counterfeit euro banknotes remains low in 2025 (27 February 2026). https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr260227~66abdc6895.en.html
- European Central Bank — Testing of banknote authentication devices. https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/cashprof/cashhand/devices/html/testing.en.html
- European Central Bank — Bulgaria introduces the euro (1 January 2026). https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr260101~c830245e42.en.html
- Légifrance — Code pénal, articles 442-1 to 442-7 on counterfeit currency. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/id/LEGISCTA000006149855