-
NBS Tasks
Browse topics
- Monetary policy
- Financial market supervision
- Financial stability
- Banknotes and coins
- Payments
- Statistics
- Research
- Legislation
-
Publications
- Activity Report of the NBS Innovation Hub Annual Report Economic and Monetary Developments Financial Stability Report Investment Policy Statement of the National Bank of Slovakia Macroprudential Commentary Policy Briefs
- Report on the Activities of the Financial Market Supervision Unit Research Papers: Working and Occasional Papers (WP/OP) Statistical Bulletin Structural Challenges Other publications Sign up for your email notifications about publications
- About the Bank
- Media
- Frequently asked questions
-
For the public
Browse topics
- About the Bank
- Exchange rates and interest rates
- Banknotes and coins
- Payments
- Financial stability
- Financial market supervision
- Statistics
- Legislation
-
Publications
- Activity Report of the NBS Innovation Hub Annual Report Economic and Monetary Developments Financial Stability Report Macroprudential Commentary
- Report on the Activities of the Financial Market Supervision Unit Research Papers: Working and Occasional Papers (WP/OP) Statistical Bulletin Other publications Sign up for your email notifications about publications
- Frequently asked questions
- Media
- Careers
- Contact
Status report on euro counterfeits recovered in 2022
Banknotes
The total number of counterfeit euro banknotes recovered in Slovakia in 2022 was 771, around one-third lower compared with the number for 2021 and the lowest ever annual figure since the country adopted the euro in 2009. A total of 751 counterfeits were recovered from circulation (97.4 %). The overall number of recovered counterfeits was far higher in 2020 than in the rest years mentioned in the table, because in August 2020 a single police operation resulted in 15,002 counterfeit banknotes being seized before they entered circulation.
Yearly trend in the number of counterfeit euro banknotes
| Year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Number | 1,473 | 1,970 | 16,294 | 1,162 | 771 |
The counterfeit banknotes recovered in 2022 consisted mostly of counterfeit €50 banknotes and €20 banknotes.
Breakdown of counterfeit euro banknotes by denomination
| €5 | €10 | €20 | €50 | €100 | €200 | €500 | Total | |
| Number | 10 | 97 | 126 | 318 | 121 | 19 | 80 | 771 |
| % | 1.3 | 12.6 | 16.3 | 41.2 | 15.7 | 2.5 | 10.4 | 100.0 |
While the quality of counterfeit banknotes is generally high, the public can detect them without special equipment if they stay vigilant when receiving banknotes. Genuine banknotes can be easily recognised using the “feel, look and tilt” method described on the euro pages of the ECB’s website (www.ecb.int) and the websites of the Eurosystem national central banks.
Coins
In 2022 a total of 2,580 counterfeit euro coins were recovered in Slovakia. This number was 62% higher compared with 2021. A total of 2,315 counterfeit coins were recovered from circulation (89.7 %).
Yearly trend in the number of counterfeit euro banknotes coins
| Year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Number | 1,249 | 1,393 | 1,229 | 1,592 | 2,580 |
Counterfeit €2 coins accounted for 93.7% of the total. The technical quality of coin counterfeits is mostly high or very high, and it may therefore be quite difficult for the public to detect them, especially if insufficient attention is paid to coins when received.
Breakdown of counterfeit euro coins by denomination
| 50 cent | €1 | €2 | Total | |
| Number | 68 | 96 | 2 416 | 2,580 |
| % | 2.6 | 3.7 | 93.7 | 100.0 |
The easiest way to detect a counterfeit coin is with a simple magnet. Genuine €1 and €2 coins have a magnetic core and therefore by applying a magnet to the core it is possible to compare the magnetism of a suspect coin with that of a genuine coin. It is also important to observe the general appearance and colour of a suspect coin. In the case of a suspect €2 coin, it is also recommended to check the edge lettering.
More detailed information about the common and national sides of euro circulation coins can be found on the websites of the ECB and Národná banka Slovenska.