Banknotes and Coins

Slovenia’s application to join the euro area in 2007 was approved by the Council of the European Union on 11 July 2006. With the entry into force of the Euro Adoption Act, the euro has been Slovenia’s currency since 1 January 2007, when euro banknotes and coins became legal tender. The euro replaced the tolar, which was Slovenia’s currency from 8 October 1991 to 31 December 2006. 

Today the euro is the official currency of 20 EU Member States that are home to more than 346 million people. The micro-states of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City also use the euro on the basis of a formal arrangement with the European Union, and are allowed to mint coins with their own national sides. Montenegro and Kosovo likewise use the euro, but without a formal arrangement (they may not mint coins). 

The ECB and the national central banks, among them Banka Slovenije, are the issuers of euro banknotes and euro coins, and are responsible for maintaining public confidence in the single currency. 

Euro banknotes 

Euro banknotes are issued in seven different denominations (€5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500), and are the same in all euro area countries.

There are currently two series of euro banknotes in circulation. 

• The first series of euro banknotes was originally issued in 2002 when the euro was introduced, and comprises seven different denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. These banknotes are gradually being withdrawn from circulation. 

• The second series, also known as the Europa series, comprises six different denominations: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200. There is no €500 banknote in the Europa series, and as of 27 April 2019 it is no longer being issued. €500 banknotes are still legal tender and will always retain their value. They can be exchanged at any time at any euro area central bank. The Europa series was designed to make euro banknotes more secure against counterfeiting and more durable. The first banknotes started circulating in 2013, and the series was completed in May 2019 when the €100 and €200 banknotes were issued.

Design elements

The design of euro area banknotes is based on an “ages and styles” theme. An independent banknote designer named Reinhold Gerstetter was selected to refresh the design for the Europa series, which also makes it easy to differentiate between the two series. More information about the design elements can be found on the ECB website. 

Security features

Euro banknotes and their security features are made using a mix of the very latest technologies in banknote printing, which ensures a high level of security and makes counterfeiting difficult to attempt. The security features make the euro one of the safest currencies in the world, and it is easy to distinguish genuine banknotes from fakes.Banka Slovenije always advises cash handlers to remain vigilant with regard to banknotes received in cash transactions. The banknotes are easy to authenticate without the need for special equipment, with the “feel, look and tilt” method, which is described in detail on the ECB website. You can also check your knowledge and skills in authenticating euro banknotes and coins on our e-learning tool. 

For professional cash handlers and people working in authentication, euro banknotes also have additional security features that can be checked with special equipment, including infrared lighting, ultraviolet lighting, and magnifying glasses. 

Future banknotes

A new series of euro banknotes is under preparation, with the involvement of the public and experts in the field. A final decision on the designs of the banknotes will be taken by the Governing Council of the ECB, provisionally in 2026. After selecting the designs, the Governing Council will set out the timeframe for the production and release of the banknotes. It will still take some years before the new banknotes enter circulation. More on the future banknotes, the redesign process and the latest information can be found on the ECB website. 

Euro coins

Euro coins are issued in eight denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and €1 and €2. Each coin has a common side, which symbolises EU unity, and a national side, which indicates the issuing country. All the coins, irrespective of the different national sides, are legal tender throughout the euro area.The common sides of the coins were designed by Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint. There are various designs for the common side:

• the €1 and €2 coins and the 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins show the EU before the enlargement of 1 May 2004. Since 1 January 2007 the coins have shown images of Europe;

• the 1-, 2- and 5-cent coins show Europe in relation to Africa and Asia on a globe.

Slovenian euro coins

The Slovenian euro coins have eight different motifs on the national side that symbolically represent parts of Slovenian history and culture. Each coin has 12 stars around the edge interspersed with letters spelling “SLOVENIJA”. The design concept for the national sides of the Slovenian euro coins was created by Miljenko Licul, together with his colleagues Maja Licul and Janez Boljka.

Security features

Euro coins are protected against counterfeiting by high-security machine-readable characteristics. They can be used in vending machines throughout the euro area, no matter where they were issued.

• Sophisticated bi-metal and sandwich technologies have been incorporated into the €1 and €2 coins.

• The material of 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins is a unique alloy (Nordic gold), which is difficult to melt and used exclusively for coins.

Lettering around the edge of the €2 coin and the use of a unique metal composition for the 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins protects them against counterfeiting.

Pravila za reprodukcijo

Evrski bankovci

Pravila prispevajo k zanesljivosti evrskih bankovcev, saj uporabnikom omogočajo, da pristne bankovce zanesljivo in brez težav ločijo od reprodukcij.

Če reprodukcij v reklamnih sporočilih ali ilustracijah v tisku ni mogoče zamenjati za pristne bankovce, jih je mogoče uporabljati brez vnaprejšnjega pooblastila Evropske centralne banke (ECB).

Evrski kovanci

Kovinske predmete, na katerih so besede euro ali euro cent in so na videz podobni evrskim kovancem, bi uporabniki utegnili zamenjati za evrske kovance, ki so zakonito plačilno sredstvo.

Dovoljena je le izdelava medalj in žetonov, ki jih ni mogoče zamenjati za pristne evrske kovance.

Več podrobnosti je na voljo v dokumentih na spletnih straneh ECB.