A growth in bank note forgery is what most worries
Spaniards about the introduction of a new currency. The euro could
easily become a counterfeiter's dream if Spain's central bank does
not take sufficient action to alert businesses and the public. The
Bank of Spain (Banco de España) believes it has done so.
The problem for the Bank for Spain - and other European central
banks - is that to prevent false bills being accepted the public
needs to be educated about the euro notes, so that people learn to
recognise the new currency and can identify fake notes. On the
other hand, to release too much information before the euro is
actually in circulation is an invitation to counterfeiters to
adjust their printing machines and start producing fake notes well
in advance. There is a clear trade-off.
To deal with these competing interests, the Bank of Spain has
decided to circulate...
