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The European Central Bank last week asked the public to weigh in on designs for new euro banknotes, the first redesign of the currency since its 2002 launch. The competition pits rivers and birds against cultural figures in a battle to represent the spirit of the bloc.
The bank has gotten a lot of feedback. There have been millions of responses to an online survey, it says, and more than 26 million views for social media posts introducing the banknotes. Thousands of alternative suggestions have been submitted by those who contend that none of the approaches now under consideration capture the European experience.
The new bills are meant to make cash harder to counterfeit, environmentally friendly and more “relatable” as cashless transactions rise in the 21-nation eurozone.
The redesign offers a chance to reflect on Europe’s shared values and identity, the central bank says. Framing the choice between nature and culture, Christine Lagarde, the E.U.’s top banker, said that “culture promotes values, inclusion, promotes dialogue in Europe and beyond” and “brings people together.”
The bills in the culture series feature historical European figures on the front, and a variety of activities and spaces on the back. Among them are the opera star Maria Callas, Beethoven, da Vinci and Marie Curie.
The nature theme reflects the notion that “rivers and birds recognize no borders, symbolize freedom and unity among Europeans,” Ms. Lagarde said. These banknotes show birds — among them a wallcreeper, a kingfisher and a bee-eater — in their natural environments.
“Tell us which design you like and why,” Ms. Lagarde said, urging Europeans to participate in a survey open through Sept. 21.
People have been eager to chime in, if not necessarily the way the central bank had in mind. Many social media users swapped out the proposed luminaries with those of celebrities and animated characters. Some posted unflattering portrayals of European politicians and policies.
Ms. Lagarde herself was not spared. She was depicted on one fake bill urging people to“buy bitcoin,” and on another that said, “money printer go brrr.” That one shows her printing cash, and is a reference to a 2020 meme embraced by crypto enthusiasts.
Some suggested that the soul of Europe might be best captured by images of packaging inconveniences tied to E.U regulation, or by surveillance cameras and handcuffs. There has also been debate about just how relatable — or even recognizable — the cultural figures on the proposed banknotes are.
Doris Schneeberger, director of banknotes at the central bank, said the strong response to the survey was “a sign of how much the euro, as a tangible sign of European unity, matters to people all over the Continent.”
Take this quiz to join the debate.
