„Mein Euro – Spiel- und Rechengeld“ für die Primarstufe bietet eine große Anzahl an ausstanzbaren Münzen und Banknoten zum Spielen und Rechnen. Das beiliegende Poster zeigt kindgerecht die Münzmotive aller Euro-Länder, die Euro-Banknoten sowie eine Karte mit den Euro-Ländern.

The German government has decided to mint a €2 commemorative coin entitled “Saarland”. Scheduled for be issued at 16 January 2025, the coin is part of the “Federal States II” series that began in 2023. One €2 coin will be brought out every year, each celebrating a different federal state and showcasing an emblem that encapsulates the state depicted.

The €2 coins with a commemorative design are regular coins , which are accepted as legal tender in all euro-area countries. Although these €2 coins with a commemorative design are more commonly referred to as commemorative coins, they are nonetheless officially classed as “standard” regular issue coins.

In 2024, the Bundesbank registered approximately 72,400 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €4.5 million in German payments. The number of counterfeits was thus up by 28% on the year. 

As of 1 January 2015, Deutsche Bundesbank branches will accept lodgements of coins from retail customers free of charge only if they comply with the standards laid down in the guidelines for the packaging of coin rolls and if whole numbers of standard containers are submitted per denomination.

This is where you will find answers to frequently asked questions about cash.

All euro coins have a common "European" side and a national side. The common side has the same design in all the euro-area member states.

The Bundesbank will replace damaged euro and Deutsche Mark banknotes if more than half of the note is presented or it can be proved that the missing (larger) part of the banknote has been destroyed.

Die auf die Publikation "Mein Euro Spiel- und Rechengeld" abgestimmten Arbeitsblätter unterstützen Kinder dabei, das Aussehen und den Wert der Euro-Münzen und Euro-Banknoten sowie die Euro-Länder kennenzulernen.

It is generally possible to exchange an unlimited amount of DEM banknotes and coins indefinitely and free of charge at all Bundesbank branches, or by post via our Mainz branch.

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.

The branches of the Bundesbank supply the economy with euro banknotes and coins, and offers private customers the opportunity to exchange D-Mark banknotes and coins free-of-charge and with no fixed deadline.

Since the introduction of euro banknotes and coins, a number of German euro collector coins have been issued every year, which are only legal tender in Germany. Issues of these coins in mint condition can be purchased at all Bundesbank branches.

The Bundesbank plays a pivotal role in the cash cycle. It issues new banknotes and coins, as well as removing unfit banknotes and coins from circulation.

The Münze Deutschland is the official Sales Agency for collector coins of the Federal Republic of Germany. Editor of the German coins is the Federal Ministry of Finance.

In 2023, the Bundesbank registered more counterfeit money in Germany than in the previous year. In total, there were around 56,600 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €5.1 million. “The increase in counterfeit figures was driven by a handful of major cases of fraud, predominantly involving counterfeit €200 and €500 banknotes,” stated Bundesbank Executive Board member Burkhard Balz. Overall, the incidence of counterfeiting is still low and the risk to members of the public remains small, he said.

For non-business clients, the Bundesbank offers cash-related services for the settlement of small-scale transactions. However, given that the minimum requirements applicable for transactions effected by business clients do not apply to business clients, the range of cash-related services available to these customers is restricted.

Pictures and information on the national sides of the coins in circulation in the Vatican.

The branches of the Bundesbank supply the economy with euro banknotes and coins, and offers private customers the opportunity to exchange D-Mark banknotes and coins free-of-charge and with no fixed deadline.

Euro banknotes and coins are used in a large number of payments every day. Private individuals and enterprises usually withdraw this money from their bank accounts. But where do banks get this cash from?

Around 44,100 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of just under €2.7 million were withdrawn from circulation in Germany in 2022. There was a 5.2% increase in the number of counterfeits compared with the previous year.

The German government has decided to mint a €20 collector coin marking the “50th anniversary of International Women’s Year” to be issued 6 March 2025.

In the first half of 2023, the Bundesbank withdrew approximately 26,700 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of just under €2.9 million from circulation in Germany. This was 10% more counterfeit banknotes than in the second half of 2022. The number of counterfeit €200 and €500 banknotes rose in particular. “The incidence of counterfeit banknotes is still low, however. Statistically speaking, there were six counterfeit banknotes per 10,000 inhabitants,” stated Burkhard Balz, the Bundesbank Executive Board member responsible for cash management.

Information on the options for obtaining the stamping quality “Stamp Shine”.

In the first half of 2022, around 19,800 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of just under €1 million were withdrawn from circulation in Germany. The number of counterfeits fell by 3.9% compared with the second half of 2021.

The €10 collectors’ coin “In the Air” featuring a colourless polymer ring was issued on 4 April 2019. This coin is the first in a three-part series, “Air Moves” (2019-21).

Die Bundesbank hat im Jahr 2021 rund 42.000 falsche Euro-Banknoten im Nennwert von 1,9 Millionen Euro registriert. Das entspricht einem Rückgang von 28,6 Prozent gegenüber dem Vorjahr. Der Rückgang sei auf die verminderten Absatzmöglichkeiten für die Hersteller und Verbreiter von Falschgeld zurückzuführen, erläuterte Bundesbankvorstand Johannes Beermann.

The German government has decided to mint a €10 collector coin entitled “Federal Agency for Technical Relief”, which is scheduled for issue on 24 April 2025.

In 2022, the Bundesbank registered approximately 44,100 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €2.7 million in German payments. The number of counterfeits was thus up by 5.2% on the year.

The branches of the Bundesbank supply the economy with euro banknotes and coins, and offers private customers the opportunity to exchange D-Mark banknotes and coins free-of-charge and with no fixed deadline.

Pictures and information on the national sides of the coins in circulation in Estonia.

The German government has decided to mint a €10 collectors’ coin entitled “Police”, to be issued on 25 April 2024.

Münzen können von Bargeldgeschäftspartnern seit 2015 nur noch in Normcontainern bei uns eingezahlt werden.

In the first half of 2021, the Bundesbank recorded approximately 21,400 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €1 million. This represents a decline of 13% compared with the second half of 2020. This is due to the coronavirus restrictions, said Bundesbank Executive Board member Johannes Beermann.

The German government has decided to mint a €10 collector coin entitled “Care”, to be issued on 12 May 2022.

The Bundesbank registered approximately 58,800 counterfeit euro banknotes in 2020 with a nominal value of €2.9 million, with mostly €10 and €20 banknotes being counterfeited.

Pictures and information on the national sides of the coins in circulation in Andorra.

In the first half of 2022, around 19,800 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of just under €1 million were withdrawn from circulation in Germany. The number of counterfeits fell by 3.9% compared with the second half of 2021. This equates to five counterfeit banknotes per 10,000 inhabitants.

The branches of the Bundesbank supply the economy with euro banknotes and coins, and offers private customers the opportunity to exchange D-Mark banknotes and coins free-of-charge and with no fixed deadline.