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The currency of Italy is the Euro. The euro banknotes and coins are part of everyday life for approximately 320 million people in the euro area. In this article we present the seven euro banknotes and the eight euro coins.

Euro banknotes and coins were introduced on 1 January 2002 in 12 of the then 15 Member States of the European Union (EU). The euro has since been adopted by Slovenia (1 January 2007) and Cyprus and Malta (1 January 2008). Currently the euro area is made up of 15 countries.

15 Member States of the European Union use the euro as their currency:

Belgium
Germany
Ireland
Greece
Spain
France
Italy
Cyprus
Lu xembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Austria
Portugal
Slov enia
Finland
Non-participants:
Bu lgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom are EU Member States but do not currently use the single European currency.

The banknotes inspired by the architectural styles of seven periods in Europe's cultural history are identical throughout the euro area. The coins have a European' side and a national' side, with images that vary from country to country. In addition to the countries in the euro area, the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City also issue euro coins.

Furthermore, all of these countries can issue a 2 commemorative coin, with a special national design, once a year. These coins have the same European side and the same material properties as normal 2 coins. They are legal tender throughout the euro area, i.e. they can be used and must be accepted just like any other coin.

You can use any euro coin or banknote anywhere in the euro area.

When writing 1 Euro = 1.5787 U.S. Dollars / 1 Dollar = 0.6334 Euro.

THE EURO BANKNOTES

5
Size: 120 x 62 mm
Colour: Grey
Architectural period: Classical
10
Size: 127 x 67 mm
Colour: Red
Architectural period: Romanesque

20
Size: 133 x 72 mm
Colour: Blue
Architectural period: Gothic

50
Size: 140 x 77 mm
Colour: Orange
Architectural period: Renaissance

100
Size: 147 x 82 mm
Colour: Green
Architectural period: Baroque and rococo

200
Size: 153 x 82 mm
Colour: Yellow-brown
Architectural period: Iron and glass architecture

500
Size: 160 x 82 mm
Colour: Purple
Architectural period: Modern 20th century

THE EURO COINS
The coins range from 2 to 1 cent. Each one has a European' side and a national' side. The European sides show either the EU before its enlargement in May 2004 or a geographical image of Europe. The national sides show symbols or images from the countries

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