Exchange Pre-Euro Banknotes

Exchange Pre-Euro Banknotes for CASH

Many people like you own various pre-Euro banknotes collected from trips abroad. Unfortunately, these outdated notes can’t be exchanged at banks in the UK. So, what should you do with them? You don’t want to just throw them away, so they’ll probably sit in a drawer for years! However, there is now a way to exchange pre-Euro banknotes with Cash4Coins.

We exchange all foreign coins and exchange pre-Euro banknotes for cash. Our service is very fast, and we pay within one hour – which is why banks, hospitals, schools, and individuals trust us.

Why should you choose to exchange pre-Euro banknotes with us?

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If you’d like to see how to send us your notes, then go to our how it works page.

Pre-Euro banknote information

When the Euro was first introduced in 1999, it replaced the existing currencies in 14 countries, from major European economic powers like France and Germany to smaller states like Monaco and San Marino. Over the years since then, a further six nations have adopted the Euro, mainly smaller nations and former members of the Soviet bloc.

This radical change in European currency led to a similarly significant change in banknotes. All 20 nations now use Euro banknotes, which entered circulation in 2002. Unlike Euro coins, which vary from one issuing country to another, Euro banknotes are identical. This means that a mere seven-note design has replaced the whole wide variety of pre-Euro banknotes.

Some nations that adopted the Euro did not have a strong tradition of pre-Euro banknotes. For example, although Monaco minted coins for its currency, the Monegasque franc, it only issued banknotes once, in 1920. For most purposes, residents of Monaco simply used the French franc, which was also legal tender there. Similarly, the small country of San Marino never issued its banknotes, instead using Italian notes alongside its coinage.

In other countries, however, a rich tradition of banknotes existed. The first French franc banknotes were issued in 1795, over 200 years before the Euro’s introduction. The earliest notes of the Dutch guilder date from 1814. Other currencies were more recent — the Slovak koruna had only been in existence for less than two decades, following the separation of Czechoslovakia into Slovakia and the Czech Republic, when Slovakia adopted the Euro.

The various pre-Euro banknotes display a wide array of designs, from traditional to modern. Most feature portraits of historical figures, such as scientists, political leaders, writers, and artists, alongside scenes of the architecture or landscapes of the issuing country. For example, the banknotes of the Finnish markka featured images of well-known Finns like composer Jean Sibelius or folklorist and poet Elias Lönnrot. Others focused on natural themes. For instance, in 1990, the Netherlands issued new guilder notes replacing the previous series’ portraits of historical figures with images of native birds.

Modern banknote designs can sometimes cause trouble. In 1993, when the Finnish government issued its new 20 markkaa banknote, it featured a photograph of novelist Väinö Linna, apparently believing the image was in the public domain. In reality, they had failed to secure the rights holder’s permission. With millions of notes already in circulation, it was impossible to amend the design; the government paid 100,000 markkaa (about 17,000 euros) in compensation.

For some time after switching to the Euro, pre-Euro banknotes could still be exchanged for Euros. In most countries, this period has now ended. The exact duration varied by country. In some instances, it lasted only a few years, while in others, such as Finland, it was 10 years — the Finnish markka remained exchangeable until February 2012. In Portugal, the exchange period is still ongoing. Escudos can be exchanged for Euros until 2022.

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