The euro’s ISO 4217 numeric code is 978.
ISO 4217 gives currencies both alphabetic and numeric identifiers. The euro’s familiar three-letter code is EUR, while 978 is its three-digit numeric code. Numeric codes are useful in databases, payment systems and situations where scripts or language differences make alphabetic abbreviations less convenient.
The euro was launched in 1999 for electronic payments and accounting, while euro banknotes and coins entered circulation in 2002. It is issued within the framework of the Eurosystem, which consists of the European Central Bank and the national central banks of euro-area countries. The currency is subdivided into 100 cents.
The alternatives in this quiz identify different currencies: 392 is the Japanese yen, 826 is pound sterling and 840 is the United States dollar. A common mistake is to treat 978 as a country code or exchange rate; it is specifically the ISO 4217 numeric identifier for the euro. The euro symbol (€), alphabetic code EUR and numeric code 978 are three different forms of identification.