The new €20 notes are in circulation here from today.
The third in the 'Europa Series' of banknotes is the same size and is similar in appearance to the existing note.
However it has a number of new security features.
These same features are also present on the Europa Series €5 and €10, and can be easily checked using the 'Feel, Look and Tilt' method. They include:
- a portrait watermark of the Greek goddess Europa
- raised lines along the sides of the note
- a shiny emerald colour number
- a portrait hologram of Europa
In addition to these, the new €20 has an additional security feature, known as the portrait window.
When you look at the banknote against the light, the window near the top of the hologram becomes transparent and reveals a portrait of Europa, and rainbow-coloured lines, on both sides of the note.
When the banknote is tilted, rainbow-coloured lines appear around the value numeral and in the window on the back of the banknote.
Source: Central Bank of Ireland
The existing €20 note remains legal tender, and the new €20 will circulate alongside it.
The total number of €20 banknotes in circulation in the Euro area was 3.2 billion as of the end of October 2015.
Some 18.1 billion banknotes were in circulation with a face value of €1,053.8bn.
Director of currency with the Central Bank of Ireland, Paul Molumby, explains the changes.
The European Central Bank has also released this video of the launch of the note:
