Such discoveries have recently become frequent, in part because of the imminent introduction of euro bills and coins.

Business has doubled, he added, since the introduction of euro bills and coins in January 2002.

"I need them unused," Mike said, standing up and tossing a twenty euro bill on the bar.

Most of this is invisible to ordinary consumers, who will not be able to use euro bills and coins until 2002.

Europeans will have euro bills and coins in their pockets, and resistance to change may diminish further.

The color and size of euro bills vary by the denominations, which range from 5 to 500 euros.

Inside was a pile of euro bills, about 4,000 American dollars' worth in all.

With the global economic crisis looming, Blu painted a threatening shark whose skin is completely covered in euro bills.

He also thought the biggest euro bill, the 500 bank note worth around $450, would not catch on outside of Germany.

At the same time, we have the largest, the 500 euro bill, which will often be worth half a year's pension in those countries.