Can even €50 notes be problematic in certain countries?

[goldeneye]

It is well known that notes of and higher are problematic in many countries. I am wondering if even the can be problematic, since I am headed to the Baltics, and the is actually of higher value than the highest note (former EEK 500) replaced in Estonia, and I heard that note wasn't common at all even then to be seen in circulation.

Has anyone actually ran into issues with notes for it being "too large" to break, especially lately?

[Montgomery Burns]

The ATM is a good barometer for this - are fifties common at the ATM wherever you are? If so, then the fifty shouldn't really raise an eyebrow. Over here, they're the exception, not the rule at the machines. Whenever you pay with one, they're likely to get tested with that magic marker many cashiers have.

Having said all that, I'd say always try to be reasonable. Paying a very small expense with a fifty may summon suspicions or simply more or less veiled discontent also, trying to exchange a fifty (or higher) for smaller notes may definitely raise suspicions. It is Europe's most counterfeited denomination, after all. I only try to exchange smaller for bigger, usually when paying an expense. Like, "oh by the way, would you like some extra fivers? I was surprised by this ATM which gave me so many..."

Enjoy!

[siriusLT]

is very common in Baltic countries. It is one of the most common denomination in ATMs - seen them in Estonia, Latvia and of course in Lithuania. I didn't have any issues using and in Estonia. Baltic countries are step forward in IT hence markers are very rare in here (at least in Lithuania), and most of the shops use the counterfeit detectors like EC350 EURO.
Most of the banks in here have even better detectors like euro banknote counter BT7100.
In Lithuania even is quite often in supermarkets and the cashiers are not surprised by them at all.

[Xerxes84]

€50 is very common in Ireland. I have entered more than and . Many times when you go to the ATM it'll only have to dispense. You can't get out of ATMs here and you would struggle to find an ATM that will give you .

would be treated with suspicion here. When we used the punt before the euro we did have a £100 note but I only ever saw one once. You very rarely see notes over here.

[Montgomery Burns]

€50 is very common in Ireland.

Yes, so it would seem...

Things are tough in Ireland. Real tough...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00umb7Cdgdk

[Xerxes84]

€50 is very common in Ireland.

Yes, so it would seem...

Things are tough in Ireland. Real tough...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00umb7Cdgdk

I remember that

[lapislazuli_18]

In Spain they are totally not a problem to use. Only if the cashier doesn't have enough change and you are buying something < €5. Then, you might the infamous "perdona, no tengo cambio" thrown at you Come on, like if it was too hard to hand out two damn and some coins

Anyways, are truly common here as we still use a fair amount of cash, specially older people tend to depend on it more and whenever they withdraw any money they tend to do so in stacks of , for example, my aunt (over 65 years old) went shopping and got €800 in from the ATM. On the other hand, anything above is quite rare in day-to-day transactions. They become more common among north European tourists, drug dealers, tax evaders and our much loved corrupt politicians

[philgelico]

In France, paying with a can be problematic, particularly during the first hours of morning.
Fortunately, many supermarkets have self-service automatic payment facilities, where you can insert all your very small coins, and then, pay with or even sometimes or .

[lapislazuli_18]

The ATM is a good barometer for this - are fifties common at the ATM wherever you are? If so, then the fifty shouldn't really raise an eyebrow. Over here, they're the exception, not the rule at the machines. Whenever you pay with one, they're likely to get tested with that magic marker many cashiers have.

Having said all that, I'd say always try to be reasonable. Paying a very small expense with a fifty may summon suspicions or simply more or less veiled discontent also, trying to exchange a fifty (or higher) for smaller notes may definitely raise suspicions. It is Europe's most counterfeited denomination, after all. I only try to exchange smaller for bigger, usually when paying an expense. Like, "oh by the way, would you like some extra fivers? I was surprised by this ATM which gave me so many..."

Enjoy!

You're right, a note is common in a country if it is available in its ATMs as, after all, they are the most common way for people to obtain their cash.