The German Bundesbank published its 2025 findings on counterfeit euro cash detected in German payments, reporting a decline in both the number of fake banknotes and coins and a lower financial loss. It identified nearly 68,000 counterfeit euro banknotes, down 6.1% year on year, with the resulting damage falling to EUR 4 million from EUR 4.5 million in 2024. The lower loss was driven by a marked drop in counterfeits of EUR 100 and EUR 200 banknotes, while counterfeiters increasingly focused on simpler, mid-denomination fakes. EUR 50 notes accounted for half of all detected counterfeit banknotes (33,956, up 17%), while EUR 200 counterfeits fell 49% (2,954); overall, the second half of 2025 recorded fewer counterfeit notes (around 31,350) than the first half (36,600). Many counterfeits remained easy to spot, including notes labelled “MovieMoney” or “Prop copy”, and the Bundesbank noted these simple fakes are increasingly imitating EUR 50 notes. On coins, the Bundesbank withdrew about 128,100 counterfeits from circulation (down 9.3%), almost entirely in the higher denominations, led by EUR 2 coins (117,056, 91% of the total).
German Bundesbank 2026-02-27
German Bundesbank reports fewer counterfeit euro banknotes and coins in 2025 with losses down to EUR 4 million
The German Bundesbank reported a decline in counterfeit euro cash in 2025, with nearly 68,000 fake banknotes detected, a 6.1% decrease from the previous year, and financial losses reduced to EUR 4 million. EUR 50 notes accounted for half of all counterfeit banknotes, while EUR 200 counterfeits fell by 49%. The Bundesbank also withdrew approximately 128,100 counterfeit coins, primarily EUR 2 coins, marking a 9.3% decrease.