Euro Redesign: Nature vs Culture Themes Emerge in Public Feedback
The European Central Bank has launched a redesign of the euro banknote, and they're asking for public input. The competition pits two themes against each other: nature and culture. Millions of people have responded to an online survey, with over 26 million views on social media posts introducing the new banknotes.
The new bills are designed to be harder to counterfeit, environmentally friendly, and more 'relatable' as cashless transactions rise in the 21-nation eurozone. Christine Lagarde, the E.U.'s top banker, said that culture promotes values, inclusion, and dialogue, while nature reflects freedom and unity among Europeans.
The culture series features historical European figures on the front of the bills, including Maria Callas, Beethoven, da Vinci, and Marie Curie. The nature theme shows birds in their natural environments, such as a wallcreeper, kingfisher, and bee-eater.
Some people have responded to the survey by suggesting alternative designs, including celebrities and animated characters. Others have poked fun at European politicians and policies, even depicting Christine Lagarde on fake bills urging people to 'buy Bitcoin' or 'money printer go brrr.'