Euro Redesign: Cultural Icons vs Wildlife Themes for New Bank Notes

The European Central Bank has unveiled 10 proposals for redesigning the euro banknotes, which will be released in 2030 or 2031. Over 6 million people have voted in a survey to choose between cultural figures and wildlife themes for the notes.

The cultural theme features iconic Europeans such as Marie Curie, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Maria Callas, while the wildlife theme includes birds like the wallcreeper and bee-eater. The new designs are meant to increase identification with the single currency and make it more graphically meaningful.

Christine Lagarde, the chair of the European Central Bank, unveiled the proposals last week. Feedback from the survey will be considered, but not solely determine which design is chosen as a winner by 2026.