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Witness History: Birth of the Euro

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Birth of the Euro

01/01/2012 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Birth of the Euro

How millions of Europeans celebrated the launch of the euro in 2002.

How millions of Europeans celebrated the launch of the euro at midnight on 1st of January 2002.

At midnight on January the 1st 2002, the euro was launched simultaneously in 12 European countries.

Millions of people lined up at cash machines to take out their first notes in the new currency.

Louise Hidalgo talks to the European Central Bank official in charge of the biggest currency launch in history.

(PHOTO: AFP/Getty Images)

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