The official site of Italy's central bank

The second series of euro banknotes

The Central Banks of the Eurosystem are starting to issue, from 2^_nd May 2013, a second series of euro banknotes, the "Europa" series. The adoption of new and more advanced security features will enhance protection against counterfeiting, increasing public confidence in this fundamental payment instrument.

The design continues to be inspired by the European "ages and styles" theme.

The second series banknotes, in the same denominations as the first one, will be gradually introduced over several years, starting with the new €5 euro note that has started circulating since 2^_nd May in Italy, as well as in all the euro-area countries.

The European Central Bank has created a website (www.newfaceoftheeuro.eu) for the new "Europa" series, showing the new €5 banknote and its advanced security features.

The rules on the reproduction of euro banknotes can be found at www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/html/reproduction.en.html.

For further information, please e-mail eurosecondaserie@bancaditalia.it or call the toll free number 800 19 69 69 (from Italy only).