Counterfeiters, start your printing presses. More than 500 journalists from around the world descended on the old Opera House in Frankfurt yesterday to witness the unveiling of the euro - or "Our Money" as the European Central Bank (ECB) plans to sell it to 300 million Europeans before E-day, January 1st, 2002.

Banks get their first deliveries tomorrow. Now the race is on among counterfeiters to duplicate the holograms, watermarks and other security features.

"Central bankers are not supposed to express emotions or to have dreams; they are supposed to think and speak about numbers. Forgive me if I make an exception today," said a beaming Wim Duisenberg.

The appearance of the euro bank notes is already broadly known, with windows, gateways and bridges representing "the reality of what European integration has created today".

People will soon be able to easily identify the holograms, watermarks and security threads of genuine euro notes with a three-step test, according to ECB board member Prof Domingo Solans. "Feel, look and tilt" he incanted to incredulous snorts from journalists.

Television commercials due to start running from next month feature, among other happy euro-users, a red-haired girl straight from a John Hinde postcard.

The advertising blitz also includes print advertisements and information leaflets for 200 million households and will cost €80 million.

At the end of the show, a flushed Mr Duisenberg took to the stage for his closing words. Above his head, 12 perspex stars displaying the notes descended to grudging applause from the assembled journalists. "This is the photo of the century" said the ECB's press officer, trying to drum up some enthusiasm.

But the lukewarm reception in Frankfurt yesterday didn't dent Mr Duisenberg's enthusiasm for selling the euro to 12 million people in the next four months. "As a central banker I have never had any difficulty in getting rid of my product," he joked.