The euro's most widely used banknote is about to get a security upgrade. 

A new €50 banknote incorporating state-of-the-art security features allowing users to verify a note's authenticity using "feel, look, tilt" methods was unveiled by the European Central Bank today.

The note, which will enter circulation on April 4, is part of the ECB's second generation of euro banknotes, and follows second series €5, €10 and €20 notes.

"The introduction of the new €50 will make our currency even safer," ECB Executive Board member Yves Mersch said. "Its state-of-the-art security features help protect our money. The gradual launch of the new euro banknotes also underlines the Eurosystem’s commitment to cash as a trusted and efficient means of payment.” 

The ECB had come in for criticism earlier this year after announcing that it would end the production of €500 notes - the largest banknotes in circulation - by September 2018, citing concerns that the notes were being used to launder money and other illicit activities. 

In addition to already-existing security features such as watermarks and a raised feel, second generation €50 banknotes will also include: 

• A portrait window revealing a portrait of Greek mythological creature Europa when the note is held up to the light. The portrait, visible on both sides of the note, also appears in the watermark. Portrait windows were first used on the second generation €20 note.

• A shiny "emerald number"  that changes colour from emerald green to deep blue when the note is tilted. The number also displays a light effect that moves up and down. 

€50 notes account for 45 per cent of all euro banknotes in circulation. In fact, there are more €50 notes than all the €5, €10 and €20 banknotes put together.

The ECB say there are €18.1 billion worth of euro banknotes in circulation - an average of 53 notes per eurozone citizen. 

Euro note forgery has been on the rise in recent years. The ECB reported 296,000 fake notes in 2011 and 331,000 in 2014. By the following year, there were 112,000 fake notes found in Germany alone. 

A partnership programme involving more than 500 industrial partners across Europe and providing a wide range of educational tools and other resources related to the new banknote has been launched. The programme will help ensure banknote handling machines and authentication devices are ready in time for the new note.

More than 50 industrial partners also signed a memorandum of understanding on the adaptation of banknote equipment to the new €50 banknote on 15 June.