Get ready...

It was announced last year that a new €50 note would be coming into circulation in 2017 and that day is nearly upon us. On April 4, the new €50 will be introduced in the EU by the European Central Bank. The €50 note is the fourth denomination in the second series of euro banknotes, known as the Europa series, following the €5, €10 and €20 notes. Speaking on Crimecall, Garda Sergeant Kelvin Courtney said that the new banknote was being introduced in a bid to stay ahead of counterfeiters. He warned that if you're a cash handler, it's important to know that this is what the new note will look like to avoid any confusion. The note contains new security features which make it difficult for would-be counterfeiters to mimic, such as the raised embossing along the edges and the centre. The note feels crisper and when tilted, a number of translucent security features will become visible and parts of the note will change colour. As noted at the announcement last year, the new €50 banknote includes a portrait window – a new and innovative feature first used on the Europa series €20. When the banknote is held up to the light, a transparent window near the top of the hologram reveals a portrait of Europa, a figure from Greek mythology, which is visible on both sides of the note. The same portrait also appears in the watermark. It's important to note that the old €50 banknotes are still legal tender as well. Get familiar with it now, so the next time you're getting change, you don't think the barman is trying to pull a fast one on you...