Well, they're not issued by the European Central Bank. But if it functions as a means of exchange, it's technically "money."

Link.

Quote:

---

Fake porn euro notes being sold as a gimmick in Germany are being successfully passed off as real cash.

The notes, in 300, 600 and 1,000 euro denominations have a ring of 12 hearts instead of the usual EU stars and feature hunky men and big-breasted nude women.

Instead of the word 'Euro' being printed in the corner these notes have 'Eros' - the Greek god of love.

But despite these differences - and the fact that the only large euro notes currently in circulation are 100s, 200s and 500s - police say they are being passed off as the real thing.

Cologne newsagent Bernd Friedhelm, 33, accepted one of the fake 600 euro notes from an unknown customer who bought two cartons of cigarettes and walked off with 534 euros in change.

Friedhelm said: "He told me it was a new type of note and I just figured I hadn't seen one before."

A spokesman for the Cologne police said: "You can tell straight away by looking at it that it's fake.

"There aren't even any 600 euro notes anyway. But anyone trying to pass it off as real, even as a joke, faces prosecution."

---

LOL!

I recall an artist who drew unique elaborate copies of bills. He then used them to exchange for high end item as a form of barter since there was a demand for his art. The legal question was whether he was counterfeiting - Secret Service position - or bartering.

Story from a quick "Google"

Aside: See PaperCut, another of my "retort stories"!!