Reproduction rules

The reproduction of currency (banknotes or coins) is deemed unlawful. However, total or partial reproduction of currency shall be deemed lawful, depending on its purpose – for teaching or other purposes – insofar as they cannot be mistaken for genuine currency.

In the case of banknotes, the European Central Bank established rules on the reproduction of euro banknotes:

Article 2 of Decision ECB/2003/4, published in the Official Journal of the European Union in 25 March 2003

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Article 2 - Reproduction rules for euro banknotes Article

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3. Reproductions complying with the following criteria shall be deemed lawful since there is no risk that the general public might mistake them for genuine euro banknotes:

a) one-sided reproductions of a euro banknote as specified in Article 1, provided that the size of the reproduction is at least 125% of both the length and width or at most 75% of both the length and the width of the respective euro banknote as specified in Article 1; or

b) two-sided reproductions of a euro banknote as specified in Article 1, provided that the size of the reproduction is at least 200% of both the length and width or at most 50% of both the length and width of the respective euro banknote as specified in Article 1; or

c) reproductions of individual design elements of a euro banknote as specified in Article 1, provided that such a design element is not depicted on a background resembling a banknote; or

d) one-sided reproductions depicting a part of the front side or reverse side of a euro banknote, provided that such a part is smaller than one third of the original front side or reverse side of the euro banknote as specified in Article 1; or

e) reproductions made of a material clearly different from paper, which looks distinctly different from the material used for banknotes; or

f) intangible reproductions made available electronically on websites, by wire or wireless means or by any other means that allow members of the public to access these intangible reproductions from a place and at a time individually chosen by them, provided that:  

- the word SPECIMEN is printed diagonally across the reproduction in Arial font or a font similar to Arial font. The length of the word SPECIMEN is at least 75% of the length of the reproduction and the height of the word SPECIMEN is at least 15% of the width of the reproduction, and is in a non-transparent (opaque) colour contrasting with the dominant colour of the respective euro banknote as specified in Article 1, and
- the resolution of the electronic reproduction in its original size does not exceed 72 dpi (dots per inch).

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In addition to the above-mentioned rules, authorisation for any reproduction of banknotes with a view to their utilisation by the general public for advertisement, educational or other purposes shall be requested in advance to Banco de Portugal. Such requests shall be sent by email to emissao.tesouraria@bportugal.pt or by letter addressed to:

Banco de Portugal
Complexo do Carregado
Apartado 81
2584-908 Carregado