Page 1 of 1

2nd series euro banknotes and NCB identifiers

Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 10:49 pm
by WhyIsThis
I have not found the answer to this question anywhere in the internet.

Why 2nd series euro banknotes don't have the national central bank identifier? All 1st series euro banknotes have them!

Re: 2nd series euro banknotes and NCB identifiers

Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 11:56 pm
by tabbs
WhyIsThis wrote:Why 2nd series euro banknotes don't have the national central bank identifier? All 1st series euro banknotes have them!
Because it does not make that much sense any more. Basically the ECB (or rather the Eurosystem) assigns the production of denomination X in year Y to the central bank of country Z ... or to several NCBs, depending on the required issue volume. These NCBs will then pick a printer that makes them. See http://www.new-euro-banknotes.eu/Euro-B ... PRODUCTION" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This also takes care, so to say, of the issue that new euro countries initially have no "locally commissioned" notes. And it has always been a little strange that Luxembourg never used its NCB code. Not a problem any more. Several national central banks, however, prefer to have all "their" notes printed in-house. So in such cases you can guess from the printer code which NCB commissioned the production. Side note: The printer code is now more specific; it will not only tell you the manufacturer but also the location. Important for De La Rue and for Giesecke & Devrient notes. :)

Christian