The Euro is getting a makeover—its first update since 2002—and citizens get to vote for their preference.
The design of the old Euros was decidedly more traditional in terms of currency: it featured images of historic European architecture. The new Euros will either have images of native birds or iconic citizens such as Marie Curie or Ludwig van Beethoven.
“Euro banknotes are more than a means of payment—they are one of the most tangible expressions of Europe,” says Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank (ECB). “Through designs that combine beauty and meaning, they will reinforce our shared identity.”
The two themes were a result of a 2023 public survey in which 365,000 Europeans suggested ideas. The leading themes were “rivers and birds” and “European culture.”
