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Say goodbye to these euro coins and notes – here’s what’s changing in Spain

By Farah Mokrani • Updated: 30 Apr 2025 • 17:22 • 2 minutes read

Close-up of euro coins and a €500 note, symbolising changes in European cash currency and the potential phasing out of certain denominations

Spain and the ECB consider removing certain denominations like the €500 note and 1-2 cent coins from circulation. Credit : Shutterstock, Andrei Kuzmik

Despite the dominance of digital payments, plenty of people across Spain still prefer to use cash.

From small market stalls to pensioners managing their weekly expenses, handing over notes and coins remains a daily habit. But in an increasingly card-centric world, even supermarket workers seem surprised when someone pulls out coins at the till.

Over the past few years, there’s been growing concern that physical money – both notes and coins – could be on its way out. Supporters of a cashless society argue it would help crack down on tax evasion, money laundering, and other underground economic activities. But on the flip side, losing physical cash raises real concerns about privacy, cybersecurity, and access to essentials during outages.

If every payment leaves a digital trace, our spending becomes fully trackable. And should a system crash, cyberattack or power cut hit, millions could find themselves unable to pay for groceries or access their funds.

The €500 note is fading fast

The move toward phasing out cash has already begun. Back in 2016, the European Central Bank and the Bank of Spain officially halted production of the €500 note, due to its association with criminal activity. While these purple banknotes are still technically legal tender, they’re increasingly difficult to use or deposit, and many shops no longer accept them.

That said, you can still bring them to a bank and exchange them. Over time, once they become too damaged or scarce, they’ll quietly disappear from circulation altogether.

1 and 2 cent coins may soon disappear too

Next in line for possible elimination are the 1 and 2 cent euro coins. In countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Slovenia and Italy, these tiny coins are no longer minted, and cash payments are rounded to the nearest five cents.

Now, Spain – along with France, Germany, Portugal and Austria – is considering following suit. The proposal is already on the table and being actively discussed with the ECB. It’s not official yet, but it’s becoming increasingly likely that these coins will be phased out across the eurozone.

And it’s not just about small change. Every few years, the ECB updates euro notes and coins with new designs and enhanced security features, meaning older versions are gradually pulled from circulation anyway.

Whether you’re clinging to cash or ready to go full digital, it’s worth staying informed – the money in your wallet might not stick around much longer.

Stay tuned with Euro weekly news for more news from Spain

Written by

Farah Mokrani

Farah is a journalist and content writer with over a decade of experience in both digital and print media. Originally from Tunisia and now based in Spain, she has covered current affairs, investigative reports, and long-form features for a range of international publications. At Euro Weekly News, Farah brings a global perspective to her reporting, contributing news and analysis informed by her editorial background and passion for clear, accurate storytelling.

Comments

    • Alan Dickens

      31 March 2025 • 13:08

      Credit or debit cards are controlled by other people. For me. Cash only

      • Paul

        31 March 2025 • 18:46

        Completely agree.

    • Dennis Patey

      31 March 2025 • 15:09

      Get back to cash and maybe we can get back to speaking to a human being, I think it is a disgrace that people have to be spied on as everything is registered by machines, disgraceful, read 1984 big brother,

      • Paul

        31 March 2025 • 18:46

        Completely agree.

    • Fiona McCormick

      31 March 2025 • 17:51

      I have been in Madeira 1 month I have Not used my Bank card at all. I have managed and paid for everything in Euro.

    • Sandra howells

      31 March 2025 • 18:10

      On markets and flog it sites will always use cash,luckylucky men bartering cash you can always get a bargain..I also tip in cash..
      I try not to use my credit card as its to easy to go over your limit when you can just swipe away all day then get charged at the end of the month.

    • Sandra howells

      31 March 2025 • 18:15

      On markets and flog it sites will always use cash,luckylucky men ,I use cash.
      Dog and cat rescue any change over use it for them.
      Birthday,christmas,give cash in envelope.
      What do you say to grandkids I’ll post money to your bank and get mom to open account but not in child’s name when mom has the say were the money goes.
      Don’t think so.

    • Paul

      31 March 2025 • 18:48

      Always use cash! They’re trying to make out we are a minority because it suits the Globalist Communist Agenda.

    • Paulanangle

      31 March 2025 • 18:59

      Leave people choice of money or card don’t so controlling about it

    • Chaz

      31 March 2025 • 19:43

      The photo is wrong.. They are removing 1 and 2 centimal coins… Not the 1 and 2 Euro coins.

    • Tony Ansti

      31 March 2025 • 20:28

      My spending has decreased by nearly €300, because my micro spending on my card became almost non existent when I reverted back to cash, far too easy to overspend by just handing a card over..

    • Valerie Savory

      31 March 2025 • 20:29

      The bank charges us for using our debit card. That’s why I prefer cash . What about all the charity tins and raffles?

    • Bob

      01 April 2025 • 07:49

      Going digital is wrong in so many ways, the banks make so much money on charges for using debit or credit cards if you go cards only prices will rise to cover all the transaction costs and your life won’t be your own, we are being monitored now through mobile phones, Alexa’s and every thing else digital .
      Cash must be kept in circulation Cash is KING

    • M Good

      01 April 2025 • 10:23

      Control and bank profits are the two main reason and everything rounds up never down inflation and lss of individual freedom is the plan.

    • Nick Carter

      01 April 2025 • 11:43

      We put OUR money into banks giving them money to invest, so it they owe it to us and they then charge us for using our own money. definitely a scam

      • Jason

        02 April 2025 • 05:53

        I think we are all forgetting they control the printer that prints the cash the machine’s that dispenses the cash and the inflation rate the prices the cash……..it is not king…… bitcoin is

    • Jean Noel Foulard

      01 April 2025 • 12:06

      It is about controlling the masses. Digital cash means that the government has 100% control over your lives. They can shut down the ATM machine in a nano second but they cannot shut down cash as easy. Anyone who thinks the contactless card is the answer is totally mad. Do not allow the governments or back to remove the cash options, when the power is down your ATM will not work, but cash will work. The little people in the West are losing out, our freedoms are being reduced everyday. The corrupt EU is always pushing new laws against the European people and always telling us its for our own benefit, don´t believe a word they say. They have let in millions, yes, millions of undocumented illegal immigrants into Europe, they make NO EFFORT TO STOP THEM COMING. But these new laws are against their own people and getting rid of cash will allow the Commissars of the EU UNLIMITED POWER. DEMAND CASH IS AVAILABLE FOREVER.

      • Gordon

        01 April 2025 • 15:07

        I am fully supportive of using cash, however, in your rush to ‘immigrant hate speech’, you shoot yourself in both feet.

        If immigrants did not have the ability to use cash, how could they pay for ANYTHING ?

        Seems the perfect solution for racebaiting bigots, like yourself, for example.

      • Gordon

        01 April 2025 • 15:09

        Almost forgot to ask.

        If these people are ‘illegal and undocumented’, then how can you put a figure on how many there are ?

        • Jean Noel Foulard

          01 April 2025 • 16:50

          Hi Gordon, thanks for your comments but as for the figures of illegal immigrants I just base this on what the EU government and the UK government tell us. But from your comments I guess you have no issue with illegals entering the EU, do you employ them or more likely are you a member of the EU government trying hard to muddy the water, just asking for a friend. You obviously did not read my comment properly as I am not directly attacking illegal immigrants although they should not be here but I am talking about EU laws attacking European people while all the time allowing illegals to enter the EU. The majority of these illegals are NOT OUR FRIENDS but obviously it is of no importance to you.

          • Valicious

            02 April 2025 • 07:40

            If you hate the EU so much, go live elsewhere. I think the US align with your values. They’ll be happy to find more bigots blindly following their rhetoric and you don’t need to thank me for my comment. I hate short sighted idiots like you who blame everything on illegals and try to sound clever by adding some facts to mostly prejudice m

            • Jean Noel Foulard

              02 April 2025 • 10:44

              Well Valicious, I think you are definitely a member of the EU Commissars or getting lots of money from them. I am French but that does not mean I don´t see what the Commissars in the EU are up to and it is certainly not good for genuine Europeans. They want to destroy our farms, they want to stop food production, they are making many laws against Europeans’, they are closing down factories, they are pushing the Net Zero nonsense and you think all these things are ok. Well it either means you are not paying attention or you are happy with these things happening. They are making millions of people unemployed, the cost of power and gas is incredibly high so maybe you are on a very large expense account like most EU Commissars but I am not and I do not agree with many things the EU is doing without consulting the people of Europe. And sadly Trump is right om many things in the EU, our Freedom of speech is being taken away slowly but surely and of course the EU countries have NEVER paid their fair share of NATO.

            • Michael James

              02 April 2025 • 11:14

              Having read JNF comments the only bigot appears to be yourself. Everything he said is actually true and happening right now.

      • Caroline

        02 April 2025 • 05:16

        Yes they can shut down atm bank and swallow your card or reject it at the till and you are powerless. Has anyone tried going into a bank , exactly most have closed down and only a few left inthe city, how to control the masses is on the agenda.there would be carnage the banks would lock the doors and it would be a madness for all until it ran out.
        Then the ones with money decide how you will live,

    • Roger Buckley

      01 April 2025 • 14:06

      Cash is the only way not to be controlled by the big brother government.

    • Decosta

      01 April 2025 • 17:13

      This is political bullying, and it should not be allowed. It is time for us to stand up against these big money, powered associations in Europe and to push back against the use of credit cards and digital currencies.

    • Brian

      01 April 2025 • 17:56

      Cash is actually safer in this day and age. Too east to have your credit card and bank details stolen/emptied

    • Maurice

      01 April 2025 • 20:06

      Cash has to remain indefinitely. Everything is being taken away from the general public. Once the Globalists have complete control, it’s the end of freedom to chose anything at all. Resist, resist and resist. The European Union is not fit for purpose, it does nothing for the people it purports to represent.

    • Brian

      01 April 2025 • 22:18

      Only problem is if there’s a war digital money won’t work as emp will disable all banks machines so if there’s no cash we all go back to the stone age

    • Jason

      02 April 2025 • 05:55

      I think we are all forgetting they control the printer that prints the cash the machine’s that dispenses the cash and the inflation rate the prices the cash……..it is not king…… bitcoin is

      Reply

      • Willie Borg

        02 April 2025 • 10:49

        Bit coin will have no value when the power goes off. It is a genuine ponzi scheme because bitcoin does not exist. In your head, yes, on your computer, yes, but not without power, not in the local market when you are scrambling for food during and after the war the politicians want

    Comments are closed.

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