Everybody knew that the euro was on its way. But what they may have been rather less aware of was how the euro cash would get to all the banks, shops and post offices on time. In the German market alone, 4.3 billion euro bank notes and 17 billion euro coins had to be distributed. If placed end to end, the notes would have reached 14 times round the earth.

This vast distribution operation required two years’ planning, maximum security precautions, and impeccable logistical organisation - not to mention large numbers of vans. Securitas alone, one of Germany’s leading cash-in-transit companies, deployed a fleet of 720 specially equipped armoured vehicles, a third of them based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.