Facts and Figures

The Counterfeit Money Unit's task is to examine and store counterfeit money of any currency which is seized in Germany or confiscated by the police. We also check the authenticity of payment cards, securities, traveller's cheques and gold and silver coins which are legal tender. Another focal point of our work is to prevent the circulation of counterfeit money.

Broschüre mit Abbildungen der nationalen Münzseiten und der deutschen Sammlermünzen.

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In the period from January to June 2024, the Bundesbank removed significantly more counterfeit money from circulation in Germany than in the six months prior, detecting around 38,600 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €2.4 million. This was 29% more than in the second half of 2023. Meanwhile, the total loss arising from counterfeit banknotes was only slightly up, by just under 5%. The increase was driven by easily identifiable counterfeits, especially of €10 and €20 banknotes, said Burkhard Balz, the Bundesbank’s Executive Board member whose remit includes cash management.

Banknotes are part of our economy, our identity and our culture – and we at the ECB have an immense responsibility to ensure that people maintain their trust in them.

Even after the introduction of the euro, responsibility for the coin prerogative still lies with the competent national authorities; in Germany this is the Federal Ministry of Finance. The Bundesbank, for its part, is entrusted with the task of ensuring that a sufficient range of payment mediums are available to support the execution of payments.

Um Fälschungen von echten Münzen unterscheiden zu können, braucht man kein Münzfachmann zu sein. Die einfache Echtheitsprüfung erfordert keine komplizierten Hilfsmittel, ein kleiner Magnet genügt.

The following text provides an overview of the regulations regarding the reproduction of banknotes and coins.