The two hundred euro note (€200) is the second-highest value euro banknote (and the highest value banknote in production) and has been used since the introduction of the euro (in its cash form) in 2002. The note is used in the 25 countries that have the euro as their sole currency (with 23 legally adopting it); with a population of about 343 million. In December 2022, there were about 852,000,000 €200 banknotes in circulation around the eurozone. It is the second least widely circulated denomination, accounting for 2.9% of the total banknotes. It is the second-largest note, measuring 153 × 82 mm, and the first series has a yellow colour scheme and the second series has a brown colour scheme. The two hundred euro banknotes depict bridges and arches/doorways in Art Nouveau style (19th and 20th centuries). The €200 note contains several complex security features such as watermarks, invisible ink, holograms and microprinting that document its authenticity. The new banknotes of the Europa series 200 euro banknote was released on 28 May 2019. History The euro was founded on 1 January 1999, when it became the currency of over 300 million people in Europe. For the first three years of its existence it was an invisible currency, only used in accountancy. Euro cash was not introduced until 1 January 2002, when it replaced the national banknotes and coins of the countries in eurozone 12, such as the Finnish markka. Slovenia joined the Eurozone in 2007, Cyprus and Malta in 2008, Slovakia in 2009, Estonia in 2011, Latvia joined on 1 January 2014 and Lithuania joined on 1 January 2015. The changeover period The changeover period during which the former currencies' notes and coins were exchanged for those of the euro lasted about two months, from 1 January 2002 until 28 February 2002. The official date on which the national currencies ceased to be legal tender varied from member state to member state. The earliest date was in Germany, where the mark officially ceased to be legal tender on 31 December 2001, though the exchange period lasted for two months after that. Even after the old currencies ceased to be legal tender, they continued to be accepted by national central banks for ten years or more. Changes Notes printed before November 2003 bear the signature of the first president of the European Central Bank, Wim Duisenberg, who was replaced on 1