If you go to the bank or the cashpoint today you may be issued with one of the new five euro notes, baptised the “europa, which are in ciruclation from today.
The note carries a portrait of the mythological Greek goddess Europa who was kidnapped by Zues and transformed into a bull. Europe was named in her honour. Europe is represented on the note by an antique ceramic vase currently on display in the Louvre in Paris.
The current eurozone, which now includes Cyrpus and Malta, is also represented on the note.
New 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 euros notes are planned for 2014 although there is cross party support for reducing or eliminating the 500 euro note in a measure to combat tax fraud.
