Design of Europe's Banknotes Panned as 'Funny Money'

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The proposed banknote design of Europe's single currency, the euro, has done more to unite the Continent than many policy decisions in recent past. From London to Athens, the cry is: "Yuck!"

While there are those who like the design, and others who don't care, the critics of the new currency's looks are especially vocal.

The new notes, which will hit the streets by Jan. 1, 2002, have "the look of something makeshift prepared in a hurry by an ex-people's republic struggling to rid its currency of the iconography of Stalinism," says London-based design critic Deyan Sudjic. One source of criticism is the tiny space allocated to a national symbol of choice. For the …