€500 Bills

There is currently €900 billion in notes in circulation around the world. Of that €900 billion, one third of the value is in the €500 denomination. The question is, who actually uses those €500 bills? Apart from drug smugglers, hardly anyone! The rumor is that the bill was originally issued in order grab a piece of the action in the international underground economy, where the $100 is king. I mean, think about it: fewer notes means less counting and easier transportation, right? Banks in Britain, which is not part of the Eurozone, don't deal with the bill anymore because police reported that its only real use was in organized crime.
- Read more about it here: The Economist