It has now been 15 years since the launch of euro notes and coins on 1 January 2002. While UKMA takes no position on the euro, the anniversary of the introduction of euro notes and coins gives an opportunity to emphasise the role of measurement in their production.

The width and length of euro notes and the diameter and thickness of euro coins are all given in millimetres on the European Commission website. This website also gives the weight of euro coins in grams. Here are the stats:

Euro Coins

Denomination Diameter Thickness Weight 1 cent coin 16.25 mm 1.67 mm 2.30 g 2 cent coin 18.75 mm 1.67 mm 3.06 g 5 cent coin 21.25 mm 1.67 mm 3.92 g 10 cent coin 19.75 mm 1.93 mm 4.10 g 20 cent coin 22.25 mm 2.14 mm 5.74 g 50 cent coin 24.25 mm 2.38 mm 7.80 g 1 euro coin 23.25 mm 2.33 mm 7.50 g 2 euro coin 25.75 mm 2.20 mm 8.50 g

Euro Notes

Denomination Length Width 5 euro note 120 mm 62 mm 10 euro note 127 mm 67 mm 20 euro note 133 mm 72 mm 50 euro note 140 mm 77 mm 100 euro note 147 mm 82 mm 200 euro note 153 mm 82 mm 500 euro note 160 mm 82 mm

Another important feature of the euro is that all denominations of euro notes and coins above 5 cents are divisible by powers of 10. This feature is common to most other currencies. There is no argument about the need for any to be divisible by 3, duodecimal or other highly divisible factors, an argument often used by opponents of the metric system. However, imperial measurements use all kinds of factors, many of which do not have high levels of divisibility (e.g. 14 pounds to a stone, 22 yards to a chain, etc.).

Metric Views can confirm there is no basis for the rumour that Brexit will result in reversion to £sd in the UK. It is difficult to believe now that it is less than fifty years since the UK adopted decimal currency, being one of the last countries in the world to do so. Before then, there were 4 farthings in a penny, 12 pence in a shilling, 20 shillings in a pound, and 21 shillings in a guinea. This was divisible by 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, 18, 21, 28, 36, 42, 63, 84 and 126, but was not divisible by 10 and was hardly ever used.

Source:

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/cash/specs/index_en.htm

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