www.ecb.europa.eu
29 January 2024
- 467,000 counterfeit euro banknotes withdrawn from circulation in 2023, one of the lowest levels ever in proportion to total banknotes in circulation
- More than 70% of withdrawn counterfeits were €20 and €50 denominations
- Euro banknotes remain safe and trusted means of payment
- Authenticity of euro banknotes can be verified using “feel, look and tilt” method
Some 467,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2023. There is little likelihood of receiving a counterfeit, as the number of counterfeits remains low in proportion to the number of genuine euro banknotes in circulation. In 2023, just 16 counterfeits were detected per million genuine banknotes in circulation, which is one of the smallest proportions since the introduction of euro banknotes (see the chart below).
Chart
Number of counterfeit euro banknotes detected annually per million genuine notes in circulation
Although the proportion is very small, the actual number of counterfeits…