All Euro Banknote denominations incorporate several security features to deter counterfeiting. Security features are not specific to any one denomination, but some vary between lower denominations (€5, €10 and €20) and higher denominations (€50, €100, €200 and €500).

Security features of Euro banknotes
Security Feature Description
Holograms €20 notes and lower carry a holographic band to the right of the front side. This band is imprinted with the note's denomination.

In the case of the €50 notes and higher, the band is replaced with a holographic decal at bottom-right of the front side.
€5
Holographic
Stripe
€10
Holographic
Stripe
€20
Holographic
Stripe

These security features are more suited to the higher denominations because they are more expensive and account for a smaller share of all Euro banknotes.

€50, €100, €200 and €500
Holographic Stripe

These security features are more suited to the lower denominations because they are less expensive and account for a larger share of all Euro banknotes.

Perforations When banknotes are held against a light source, the hologram reveals perforations which form the € symbol and small numbers and letters describing the value.
€5
Holographic
Perforations
€10
Holographic
Perforations
€20
Holographic
Perforations
€50
Holographic
Perforations
€100
Holographic
Perforations
€200
Holographic
Perforations
€500
Holographic
Perforations
Iridescent Stripe The Euro sign and the denomination are printed on a matted surface, on the €5, €10 and €20 notes, in a vertical band which is only visible when observed at an angle of 45° under a light source.
€5
Iridescent Stripe
€10
Iridescent Stripe
€20
Iridescent Stripe

These security features are more suited to the higher denominations because they are more expensive and account for a smaller share of all Euro banknotes.

Variable Colour Ink The denomination value, located at the bottom right of the back of the €50, €100, €200 and €500 notes varies between purple and green when observed from different angles.
€50, €100, €200 and €500
Variable Colour Ink

These security features are more suited to the lower denominations because they are less expensive and account for a larger share of all Euro banknotes.

Watermark Each denomination is printed on uniquely-watermarked paper. This may be observed by holding the note up to the light.
All denominations' watermarks
Image Registration The note denomination in the upper-left corner of the front (1, below) of each note is printed incompletely, as is the denomination in the upper-right corner of the back (2, below). When held up to the light, this denomination is visible in its entirety. Genuine notes will exhibit perfect alignment (or 'registration') between the front and back. If the note has been printed incorrectly, i.e. by a counterfeiter, these numbers may appear poorly aligned.
€5
Image
Registration
€10
Image
Registration
€20
Image
Registration
€50
Image
Registration
€100
Image
Registration
€200
Image
Registration
€500
Image
Registration
Raised Print Some areas of the notes have a different texture from others and some characters are raised to the touch. The ECB abbreviations are one of these areas.
€5
Raised
Print
€10
Raised
Print
€20
Raised
Print
€50
Raised
Print
€100
Raised
Print
€200
Raised
Print
€500
Raised
Print
Security Thread A black thread in the middle of the note is seen only against a light source. It shows the denomination of the note, along with the word "Euro". This thread is magnetic.
€5
Security
Thread
€10
Security
Thread
€20
Security
Thread
€50
Security
Thread
€100
Security
Thread
€200
Security
Thread
€500
Security
Thread
Magnetic Ink Some areas of the Euro banknote design feature magnetic ink (known as MICR). For example, the rightmost church window on the €20 note is magnetic, as well as the large zero above it.
Infra-red and Ultraviolet Watermarks When seen in near infrared light, the banknotes will show darker areas in different areas of the design depending on the denomination. Ultraviolet light will make some fluorescent threads in the paper stand out.
€5 (front and back)
Under Infra-red and Ultraviolet Light
€10 (front and back)
Under Infra-red and Ultraviolet Light
€20 (front and back)
Under Infra-red and Ultraviolet Light
€50 (front and back)
Under Infra-red and Ultraviolet Light
€100 (front and back)
Under Infra-red and Ultraviolet Light
€200 (front and back)
Under Infra-red and Ultraviolet Light
€500 (front and back)
Under Infra-red and Ultraviolet Light
Micro Print The texture lines to the bottom, e.g. those aligned with the ΕΥΡΩ mark on the €10 banknote, are actually made of the word "EURO" in very small print.
€5
Micro
Print
€10
Micro
Print
€20
Micro
Print
€50
Micro
Print
€100
Micro
Print
€200
Micro
Print
€500
Micro
Print
Serial Number Unlike the Euro coins, the Euro notes do not have a national side indicating where they're from. This information is instead encoded within the note's serial number.

SEE Also: The Euro- Banknote Codes- Serial Numbers
SEE Also: The Euro- Banknote Codes- Printer Code
Checksum Each note has a unique serial number. The serial number is validated using a checksum.

SEE Also: The Euro- Banknote Codes- Serial Numbers
SEE Also: The Euro- Banknote Codes- Printer Code
Bar Code When held against a light source, metallic bars can be seen to the light of the watermark. The number and width of these bars indicates the value of the note. From the reverse, a dark bar is 1, a bright bar is 0. When scanned, these bars are converted to Manchester code.
Manchester code
Note Barcode Manchester
€5 0110 10 100
€10 0101 10 110
€20 1010 1010 0000
€50 0110 1010 1000
€100 0101 1010 1100
€200 0101 0110 1110
€500 0101 0101 1111