On this day January 1, 2002

Euro banknotes and coins become legal tender in twelve of the European Union’s member states.

The euro (currency sign: €; currency code: EUR) is the official currency of fifteen member states of the European Union (EU).

The states, known collectively as the Eurozone are: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain.