Using old euro notes

poppystar

I’ve not been abroad since a few years before the pandemic and had kept all the currency I had left from before rather than exchange it back. I also inherited some other currency after my parents died. This is all paper rather than polymer notes. I read that older euro notes don’t get taken out of circulation as ours do and as I understand it it doesn’t matter which euro country the notes originated in. This all sounds good but I wonder if anyone here has recent experience of using old notes in practice, particularly in Spain? 

Westin

I have never encountered an issue using ‘old’ Euro notes in any EU country.

eDicky

The previous issue euro notes remain in circulation, sometimes being included among notes dispensed by ATM. Nobody notices country of origin.

poppystar

eDicky said:

The previous issue euro notes remain in circulation, sometimes being included among notes dispensed by ATM. Nobody notices country of origin.

Thanks, that’s very reassuring if they are actually still be dispensed by ATMs. I’d assumed that even though still legal they might have gradually been removed and replaced. I had an embarrassing incident many years ago when returning to a country I tried to use notes I still had, I think it’s stuck in my mind! 

RobM99

Just back from Menorca, the paper notes are fine. I haven't seen a poly' one at all over there.

eDicky

RobM99 said:

Just back from Menorca, the paper notes are fine. I haven't seen a poly' one at all over there.

That's because polymer euro notes don't (yet) exist. There are so far two series of paper notes, both of which are legal tender throughout the euro area.

CKhalvashi

eDicky said:

The previous issue euro notes remain in circulation, sometimes being included among notes dispensed by ATM. Nobody notices country of origin.

That would be because that is what the Euro is designed for. The notes and coins are issued nationally but remain valid throughout the Euro area as each country maintains sovereignty within a single economic and currency union.

Euro notes aren't taken out of circulation until they are worn beyond reason so any banknotes will be valid.