While attempts to create a single currency across Europe have been in place since at least 1979, the euro only became a viable currency fewer than twenty years ago, on July 1, 2002. As of that day, the mark, franc, lira, drachma, and other local currencies ceased to exist. Read the rest of this article on Henry Willis's blog! http://henrywillisswiftfox.com/the-history-of-the-euro/