10 facts about the euro that every cashier and retailer should know

Approximate reading time: 2m 1s

Why do these facts about the euro matter?

As the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria approaches, every employee who works with money must be prepared. These 10 facts will help you understand the currency you will soon work with every day – and will protect you from mistakes, inconvenience, or losses.

 The course "Working with euro banknotes and coins“ is designed for retailers, cashiers, business owners, and employees who work with cash banknotes and coins .

The euro is the official currency of 20 countries

From Germany to Ireland, from Spain to Latvia – over 346 million people use the euro every day. It is the second most used currency in the world after the dollar.

The euro is already a means of payment in Bulgaria – but only in limited cases

Many retailers and tourist establishments in Bulgaria already accept euros, especially along the seaside. It will officially come into force as the country's currency in 2026.

There are two main series of euro banknotes

The first series is from 2002, the second – „Europa“ – was released in 2013 and contains additional security features.

The most counterfeited banknotes are €20 and €50

These two denominations are the most commonly used in trade – and therefore the most often counterfeited. That is why they must be checked with the greatest care.

The euro was created with multiple security features

Holograms, watermarks, UV threads, embossed printing, and more – the euro is among the hardest currencies to counterfeit.

All euro banknotes look the same – but they are not!

Each banknote has:

• a different color;

• a different length;

• a different architectural style (Romanesque, Gothic, etc.).

This makes them easy to recognize – even in the dark or during a busy shift.

The euro also has coins – up to 2 euros

The coins have a common European side and a national side. Coins from other countries will enter circulation, and it is important to recognize them – all are valid.

The euro exchange rate will be fixed

The transition in Bulgaria will use a fixed exchange rate, determined in advance. Example: 1 euro = 1.95583 leva (current reference rate). This means prices will be recalculated precisely, without floating values.

There is an official way to calculate and round amounts

When converting from leva to euro and back, rounding rules to the second decimal place are used – this will be especially important when working with cash registers and POS terminals.

Training will be key to a successful transition

No matter how much experience you have, the new currency requires new knowledge. Training on working with euros will help you recognize counterfeits, give correct change, and work with confidence.

Improve your knowledge with a course created for real-life situations

 The course "Working with euro banknotes and coins“ is designed for retailers, cashiers, business owners, and employees who work with cash banknotes and coins . 

Inside it you will find:

• what the banknotes and coins look like and which security features they have

• Detailed, comprehensive, and illustrated training and practical lessons for recognizing counterfeit banknotes;

• rules for exchanging and working with euro banknotes and coins;

• tests and simulations;

• examples from real work situations.

Sign up here

Read more about the security of the European currency in our article: Euro security: Why is it so difficult to counterfeit?