The ECB chooses the new banknotes, Leonardo on 100 euros

That it was a genius with undisputed value was known, but that an infinite value could hypothetically double, if not quadrupling it was unimaginable. Even for a ‘brain’ like Leonardo. In the beginning, his corrugated face, with his beard imposing in the late 60s, had appeared on the banknote, a little sheet, of fifty thousand lire. But they were the years of the boom and fifty thousand lire were money, a lot of money. Convert, they are worth just over a 20 banknote.

Instead, the ECB thought that a genius like Leonardo deserved more than one banknote of twenty euros. In the next emissions it will appear on 100 euros. Four “Leonardo” of the old local coinage for the genius which will now have a European dimension would be needed.

And Leonardo is not the only novelty in the reasons for the graphic surrender that the ECB board of the ECB has selected. There were two possible topics chosen for future euro banknotes. The ‘European culture’ theme focuses on places of culture and sharing and illustrious European characters; ‘Rivers and birds’ expresses the resilience and diversity of the natural world, which are accompanied by calls to European institutions.

“We are excited to present these reasons, images of real life that testify to our commitment to Europe and celebrate its cultural and natural heritage,” said Christine Lagarde, president of the ECB. “The new banknotes will be the symbol of our European common identity and the diversity that make us strong”.

In detail, among the faces chosen in the ‘European Culture’ section for 100 euros banknotes there is that of Leonardo da Vinci. On the 5 euros there will be the face of Maria Callas, on those of 10 by Ludwig Van Beethoven and the 20 euros banknotes will have printed the face of Marie Curie. Miguel de Cervantes and on those of 200 that of Bertha von Suttner, the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905, will be on banknotes from 50 euros.

The decision – reads a note – is the result of an inclusive process that has taken into account the opinions of citizens and groups of experts. In 2025 the ECB will set up a judging commission and the graphic competition will refer, in which sketches from all over the European Union will be able to participate. The Bank of Frankfurt will continue to involve the public and experts for European citizens of all ages to be recognized in the selected drawings.

In 2026 the ECB will explore the preferences of citizens starting from the rose of the selected drawings. “The development of new banknotes testifies to our commitment to cash, today and in the future. Banknotes are a symbol of our European unity; with the introduction of new decorative reasons we celebrate our common history and the commitment for a future Sustainable, “said Piero Cipollone, a member of the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors should adopt a definitive decision regarding the drawings in 2026. A few years after the decision and the subsequent production phase, the new banknotes will be ready to start circulating.