euros
 

OK This might be a very stupid question but here goes: The last time I was in Portugal they had not switched over to the euro yet.
I am curious as to the size of the new bills. no, not the exchange rate but the actual dimensions of the bills. I am visiting family in Sicily and I wanted to buy a wallet for some cousins and I was wondering if the bills would fit in a wallet desgned for American Money?? I woudl hate to give them an unuseable(not sure if that is a word):~ gift. Help and Thanks

Euros are diffent sizes. The higher the denomination...the larger the bill. Makes perfect sense and harder to couterfeit.

I had no problems putting Euros into my wallet from the states...but wallet sizes in the states vary somewhat too.

This strikes me as a "coals to Newcastle" kind of gift. Isn't Italy know for fine leather products? Or perhaps you aren't talking about leather.

actually i was talking about knock-off louis vuitton wallets for some teenage cousins. i would like to bring a gift for all the family but i have to be able to carry the stuff too. any suggestions for small gifts?

The kids would probably much rather have a distinctive T-shirt.

Hi PP,

>.....i was talking about knock-off louis vuitton wallets ....<

You ARE carrying coals to Newcastle.

I hope you were going to tellt hem the wallets were knock-offs.

It would be really cheap to try topass them off as real.

yes, i was going to tell them. beside any teenager is happy to get a funky new wallet. even in europe the white LV's still cost a pretty penny. the real basis for this post was about the euro anyway.
Intrepid- thanks-you do have a point with the T-shirt idea.

generally, they are a little smaller than US bills, although they are shorter but fatter. The 50 euro note is about 5.5" by 3" whereas US bills are a little over 6" by 2.5". The 20 euro note is smaller than that.

thanks christina, thats exactly the info i was looking for :)

I have a 100 Euro note that I just measured 5.75 x 3.25 inches.

If you put some Euro IN the wallets, I'm sure teens will love them!

as far as making purchases, are the euros alot easier then the older currencies? espicially vs. the us dollar?

"any suggestions for small gifts?"

Yes, A&F (Abercrombie & Fitch). Anyone under 25 y.o. LOVES to shop at this store. It's basically the Gap of this decade. The t-shirts are very popular this year. I also agree that putting euros into the wallets is the only way to go if you stick with the wallet gifts.

I don't like LV myself, but if your cousins do, they might enjoy them.

I don't think you need to put euro in them -- I don't give big gifts to my cousins for visiting them or ever. I think a wallet is more than enough, although if you staying with them a while, that might explain why. Also, giving people money as a gift is kind of tacky IMO.

Sorry Powerpuff, I was confused. For some reason I thought that you were bringing gifts for your teenage nieces & nephews. Thus, making you much older than they. Forget everything I said in my earlier post. I'm sure that whatever you bring will be appreciated.

There are 7 different Euro bills/banknotes:

EUR 5 120x62 mm grey
EUR 10 127x67 mm red
EUR 20 133x72 mm blue
EUR 50 140x77 mm orange
EUR 100 147x82 mm green
EUR 200 153x82 mm yellow-brown
EUR 500 160x82 mm purple

http://www.euro.ecb.int/en/section/testnotes.html

Euro bills are designed to cascade in waterfall effect, smaller denominations are shortest and they increase in height at denomination increases.

Slim to no chance, BUT traveling with knockoffs or counterfeits can be risky if an eagle-eyed Customs agent is having a bad day. They will confiscate first and its up to you to convince them that you should regain possession.

Yes, euros are easier for Americans to use--100 centimes in a euro. BTW, technically plural or singular, the proper word is euro.

Watch that you don't mix up 1 euro and 2 euro coins.

Sorry... I too thought that the giver was much older than the receiver for these gifts (when I gave the suggestion of including some cash).