20€ banknotes: the most counterfeited (SERVIMEDIA) 12-JAN-2009
15:48 - 12/01/2009
20 euro notes surpass 50 euro notes as counterfeiters' favorite
MADRID, 12 (SERVIMEDIA)
During the second half of 2008, a total of 354,000 counterfeit euro notes were removed from circulation, representing a 13% increase from the first half of the year and totaling an amount of 14.8 million euros, according to data published today by the European Central Bank (ECB).
Despite the fact that the most frequently counterfeited notes are usually the 50 euro notes, in the second half of last year, the 20 euro notes were the majority, representing 43% of the total.
Next, the second most withdrawn were the 50 euro notes, with 34% of the total; followed by the 100 euro notes with 17.5%; the 200 euro notes with 3.5%; the 10 euro notes with 1.5%; and the 5 euro notes with 0.5%.
In terms of amount, the 100 euro notes withdrawn were the ones that added up to the highest value, with a total of 6.2 million euros; followed by the 50 euro notes with 6 million.
For their part, the 20 euro notes totaled 3 million euros; the 200 euro notes 2.5 million; the 10 euro notes 53,100 euros; and the 5 euro notes a total of 8,850 euros.
MFM/jrv
