Uncommon Circulation Notes List

Are they really that rare now? I give/receive them to/from clients at my work every day. When I was in Germany a few years ago, I spent a €200 note on a Red Bull and the cashier didn't even bat a eye. And this was in a really small town.

I don't think there's much to $2 US notes being thought of as bad luck these days. That used to be the case decades ago, which is why many of the older ones have one or more corners torn off. Apparently tearing off a corner or two helped negate the bad luck. Now they're not used because there's no demand and no one really knows about them.

Which countries did you visit? Seeing the high denominations in circulation pretty much depends where you are. Generally speaking, the southern Euro countries (e.g. Spain, Italy) don't like them. Here in Germany, the €100 note is not ''rare'' in circulation. In fact, many ATMs dispense them, especially when you can choose the denominations when withdrawing money.
Rare is indeed the €200 note. The €500 is also rare in circulation because it is primarily used as ''store of value.'' But I have seen people pay with €200 and €500 notes. A rare occasion, yes. But it happens from time to time.
As there won't be a second series €500 note the ECB expects the €200 note to replace the €500 note as ''store of value.'' The ECB ordered almost one billion of the new €200 note to be printed.
The new €100 and €200 notes of the ''Europe Series'' will begin to enter circulation on May 28, 2019.


England doesn't have a £100 banknote since the end of World War Two. Scottish banks issue £100 notes. However, I don't know how common they are in Scottland.

Some try to do their part...

http://goccf.com/t/283571

Here in Australia, the $100 is rarely used. The only way to ontain them is over-the-counter at the banks, and some banks are now refusing to do so unless ordered in advance. The ATMs only dispense $50 and $20. Just like in America, where the $50 and $100 are rarely seen because the banks and ATMs only tend to issue $20 and under.

I suspect you will find this to be the case in most countries: their higher-denomination notes are theoretically still in use but in practice are scarce "on the street" because the banks refuse to supply them - usually out of fears of aiding and abetting money laundering, drug dealing and other organized crime. As if organized criminals were afraid of using lower-denomination notes. In truth, it's all part of the general move towards cashless society - governments are fine for minor transactiona to stay cash, but major transactions are supposed to all go electronic, where they can be properly tracked, taxed, etc.

I ordered over $20,000 in $100 notes, and paid cash for a car. The specialist registered dealer gave me a $3,000 discount for cash.

Interesting situation:-
I didn't have enough to pay for car insurance, so he paid that for me, with his credit card!
I reimbursed him for the insurance a week later, with another person to person payment in cash, in $100 notes.

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I have never made an electronic payment except via bank security systems.
When it comes to electronic security, they are much better managers than I am.

I pay all of my utilities bills at the Post Office, with $100 notes. I don't have a credit card.
I do have a debit card, but it is very rarely used, perhaps once per year.

I have almost no financial electronic footprint. I have never been scammed, because from a digital financial viewpoint, I don't exist, except for my local bank.
They are much better at managing my digital security than I am able to. It is impossible for me to be my own worst enemy, with my own financial security mismanagement.

I am hoping that the Australian Government will issue $200 notes. That hope might be in vain.

That is a big part of it. "Why are you using cash instead of your card for a big spend?" I admit, I look at people the same way. That bias has been embedding itself for a long time. I do feel more comfortable not having so much cash on me. I also like the buyer protections from using the card.