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Students at IUB get their hands on the new European currency.
[
Dec
19, 2001]
Akhil Agrawal opens the heavy envelope and carefully lifts out the small bag of shiny coins. "Compliments of IUB staff" reads the card. A smile crosses his face as he recognizes the contents inside.
Despite lingering skepticism, Germans queued up on Monday to purchase the first 'euro starter kits.' IUB students were more fortunate, they found them in their mailboxes today, and without having to give up a DM20 bill in exchange.
In light of IUB's international student body (131 students from more than 40 countries) and the euro's significance for Germany and other European countries who are adopting the new currency, IUB officials felt that the generous gesture would be educational and appropriate.
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As one of the last steps in the carefully planned transition to a new European common currency, this past Monday Germany became the next country to introduce its citizens to the new euro. Customers who queued up at their local bank or savings-and-loan could hand over DM 20 for a euro starter kit -- a prepackaged plastic bag of assorted euro coins, with a total worth of 10.23 EUR. These coins, consisting of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 50 cent pieces, as well as one and two euro coins, are not to be spent -- not yet, as the new currency will not be accepted in shops until January 1st -- they are intended to familiarize people with the look, shape, and feel of a new currency; one that is only slowly finding acceptance in Germany.
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