It's been a few years since my last trip to Europe and I still have the Euros I brought back on the last trip. I have two banknotes, one a 5 euro note that was issued in 2013 that appears to be acceptable to use. I also have a Series One 50 euro bank note with a 2002 date on it. Do you know if the 50 euro note will still be accepted when I return to Europe next month? Were the old Series One euro banknotes taken out of circulation?
I am asking because on a trip to England a few years ago, I unwittingly tried to pay for a meal using a 20 pound Edward Elgar bank note that had been taken out of circulation The cashier looked at me like I was trying to cheat her. Luckily I was with my cousin who is a London resident and he traded my expired note for a valid 20 pound note and said he would take my Edward Elgar note to the bank and exchange it.
I've checked the pound notes I have to ensure they are still valid but don't know if the same holds true to euro bank notes, if the old ones are still valid.
Thank you.