The saying “money makes the world go around” has taken on new
meaning. As of January 1, 1999, most European currencies ceased
to exist. The euro is a new monetary unit that, second to the
U.S. dollar, will be the most commonly used currency in the
world. Presently, 11 European countries (Portugal, Belgium,
France, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Finland, Spain, the
Netherlands, Germany and Ireland) are participating in the
launch of this single currency. The United Kingdom and Denmark
have opted to wait before joining the conversion, which will
gradually take place over a three-year period ending January
2002. Until then, participating countries can continue using
their own currencies at an exchange rate fixed to the euro. With
the euro will come the initiation of a monetary conversion
system called “triangulation.” The system requires that a
company transferring currency between the U.S. and a euro-
participating country must convert the U.S. dollar to the euro
and then the euro to the currency formerly used by t