Maria Callas Could Be on the New 5 Euro Banknote
The European Central Bank is in the final stage of redesigning euro banknotes, and Maria Callas is among the figures proposed for the new series. Under the "European Culture" theme, the Greek soprano would appear on the 5 euro note, making her the only Greek figure in the lineup.
The full proposed roster places Ludwig van Beethoven on the 10 euro, Marie Curie on the 20, Miguel de Cervantes on the 50, Leonardo da Vinci on the 100, and pacifist writer Bertha von Suttner on the 200. A second theme, "Rivers and Birds," focuses on Europe's natural heritage. The two themes are the finalists from a competition that drew over 1,200 designers across Europe.
This would be the first complete visual overhaul of euro banknotes since the currency launched in 2002.
One of the 10 finalist design proposals was created by Greek graphic designer Myrsini Vardopoulou, who earned her place in a demanding international competition. Designs were evaluated by an independent panel of 21 experts spanning fields including graphic design, history, communication, and neuroscience.
This would be the first complete visual overhaul of euro banknotes since the currency launched in 2002. The ECB has also confirmed that the 500 euro note will not be reprinted after September 21, effectively retiring it once the public consultation wraps up.
The public vote is open now and runs until September 21. A separate pan-European opinion poll will run in parallel, asking the same questions. The ECB will use both sets of results before making its final decision on the new banknote series.
