1999–2002Reputable sourceWell documented
The Euro
On the timeline · around 1999–2002 · The Modern Age of Money
What happened
In 1999 a group of European nations launched a shared currency, the euro, first for electronic transactions and then, from 2002, as notes and coins that replaced national currencies like the French franc and German mark. Managed by the European Central Bank, it became the money of hundreds of millions of people across the continent.
Why it matters
The euro was the boldest monetary union in history — many sovereign nations giving up their own money for a common one. It bound Europe's economies together and created the world's second most important reserve currency after the dollar.
Sources
- European Central Bank. The Euro · Reputable source