A new € 10 note is to enter into circulation across Ireland and the euro area today, and will be used alongside the existing €10 note, which will remain legal tender.

The note is the second in the ‘Europa series’ of banknotes, following the introduction of the new € 5 note in May 2013.

Although the new note is the same size and is similar in appearance to the existing note, it has a number of new security features. These features are also present on the Europa Series € 5, and include a portrait watermark of the Greek goddess Europa; raised lines along the sides of the note; a shiny emerald colour number; and a portrait hologram of Europa.

The total number of € 10 banknotes in circulation in the euro area was 2.1 billion as at end-August 2014, while some 16.6 billion banknotes are in circulation with a € 971 billion face value (as at end-August 2014).