About this collection
The launch of the euro marked a turning point in modern financial history. Introduced to financial markets in 1999, it became everyday reality on 1 January 2002, when 12 European countries replaced their national notes and coins with a single currency. Today, the euro is used by more than 350 million people across 21 countries. More than a means of payment, it’s a daily symbol of economic partnership and shared European identity. It’s also the world’s second most widely used currency for international payments, lending and central bank reserves, after the US dollar. Discover the story of European integration through a curated selection of artefacts and archival material from our HSBC Continental Europe collection.
