The Euro: 23 and Counting
If you visit England, you won't be using dollars or euros.

While walking down a cobblestone street in Paris, you smell the delicious scent of pain au chocolat—bread with chocolate inside.

You'd love to buy some. What kind of money would you use?

You'd pay with euros. In fact, euros are the currency for 23 European countries:

A Euro in a pastry shoppe
You have to spend euros to enjoy these delicious pastries in Europe
Countries Using Euro
AndorraAustria
BelgiumCyprus
EstoniaFinland
FranceGermany
GreeceIreland
Italy Kosovo
Luxembourg Malta
MonacoMontenegro
NetherlandsPortugal
San MarinoSlovakia
SloveniaSpain
Vatican City

What is an euro?

The euro symbol is €: the abbreviation is EUR.

Euro coins are worth €2, €1, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cent, five cents, two cents, and one cent. (There are 100 euro cents per €1.)

See pictures of euro notes and euro coins.

Each coin has a common design on the front. The image on the back represents the country where the coin was made, or minted.

Euro bills come in denominations of five, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500. Unlike the different coins, all 23 countries print bills with the same design.

What did the Euro replace?

Before 1999, the original 11 countries now using the euro had their own special currencies.

The Euro peeks from behind tile roofs at a market.
Enjoy the beautiful European markets and purchase interesting treasures with the euro.
 
Country Former Currency
AustriaSchilling
BelgiumFranc
FinlandMarkka
FranceFranc
GermanyDeutschmark
IrelandPunt
ItalyLira
LuxembourgFranc
The NetherlandsGuilder
PortugalEscudo
SpainPeseta

So why did they make the switch...?

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Landmark Credit UnionLandmark Credit Union

What makes credit unions so great? Members like you.

Every dollar you invest in your credit union earns you money while other members borrow it.

When you're ready for a loan, other members' savings will be there to help you out at the lowest possible cost.

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Landmark Credit Union

Landmark Credit Union

What makes credit unions so great? Members like you.

Every dollar you invest in your credit union earns you money while other members borrow it.

When you're ready for a loan, other members' savings will be there to help you out at the lowest possible cost.