Currency concern

COINS are a very important part of almost everybody’s day­to­day activity in Spain. Of the ones in circulation, one­euro coins are arguably, one of the most commonly used. They are in circulation in greater quantity and are said to be the coins that move the most throughout Europe.

There is however thought to be a large number of counterfeit euro coins in circulation, a number that is said to be increasing every day and which must be stopped, hence this decision.

On June 22, 2023, an authorisation was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) for the Bank of Spain to withdraw some one ­ euro coins.

Specific guidelines were introduced that will help to decide which ones are withdrawn and which ones can continue in circulation. This new measure has been in force in Spain since July 1, with the clear objective of avoiding possible scams and fighting against counterfeiting.

From now on, the Bank of Spain follows a new classification for the one­euro coins, with three different types:

• Suitable: Coins which can circulate without problem since there is nothing in them that makes one suspect that they may be false.

• Presumably counterfeit: Coins which in their shape, texture or design, show that they are not original.

• Unsuitable: Coins which will be rejected in an authentication process, or that may have been altered. This includes deteriorated or badly damaged coins that cannot be determined to be authentic.

If you are unsure of a coin, take it to your bank where staff will check that the coin meets all the guidelines. It is also recommended that from now on, people should review all their one­euro coins, refusing to accept any that may be thought not to be suitable.

AFTER a few years of uncertainty, the wedding season’s back in full swing. Post ­ lockdown, everyone deserves a party but if, with the cost­of­living crisis, it’s a choice between a big wedding or house deposit, I know what I’d choose.

Expensive weddings are a rip off. The bride and groom are a salesperson’s dream and the more extras they can flog you the better their bonus. Anybody who considers a big party to be more important than a roof over your head is bad news. A wedding day only lasts 24 hours. A marriage lasts (hopefully) a lifetime. It makes far more sense now to spend potentially limited funds on property as the length of marriage is invariably inversely proportional to the amount spent on the wedding...

Oh, and a few tips. Always get married early in the morning, so if the marriage doesn’t work out you haven’t wasted the whole day! And check the organist’s familiar with the wedding music because one hapless bride who’d asked an aged organist to play the theme tune from Kevin Costner’s ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’ found herself galloping down the aisle to ‘Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen . . .’ Oops!

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.no ra­johnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99;£0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

Johnson’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.