About the banknote: This is the highest-value euro banknote issued since the introduction of the euro in 2002. Since 27 April 2019, euro area central banks have no longer put this banknote into circulation, but it remains legal tender. The 500 euro banknote contains a number of sophisticated security features, such as watermarks, invisible ink, holograms and microprinting, which make counterfeiting very difficult. The banknote is being discontinued due to fears that it is being widely used for illicit purposes. Most of the new €500 banknotes will stop being printed in 2019, although existing banknotes will remain legal tender for the time being.
