Introduction

• What's new?
• Who we are
• History outline
• Wallpapers

General Education

• Coins & Currencies
• How coins are minted
• Error coins
• Grading coins
• Coin auctions
• Featured items

Little-known facts

• Euro coins
• United States coins
• United Kingdom coins
• Greek coins
• World coins

European currency

• A new currency born
• Specifications
• Euro coins
• Images of euros coins
• European banknotes

Greek currency

• Historical background
• Greek Drachma Coins
• Greek Euro Coins
• Athens 2004 drachmas
• Athens 2004 euros
• Ancient Olympic coins

Exchange coins

• Coin Collectors
• Statistical analysis
• Coin exchange FAQ

Coin resources

• Terminology
• Mints & currencies
• Coin Vault
• Coin links

On-line shops

• Coin Shop
• Book Shop
• Most popular coins
• Customer Quotes
• Shop FAQs

Banner Exchange

Ireland Euro Coins

During the 1990s a rapid increase in foreign direct investment and generous amounts of EU regional aid helped transform Ireland into the EU's fastest growing economy. The Irish had traditionally been one of the most pro-European nations, unsurprising considering the large amounts of financial assistance they received from Brussels. Please take a look at the Central Bank of Ireland.

According to outside commentators, the final changeover to the euro in Ireland took place quickly and was remarkably smooth. The cash changeover began on 1 January 2002, when euro notes and coin became legal tender. ATM conversion had commenced overnight and about 85 per cent of ATMs were dispensing euro that day. The Central Bank provided a cash exchange service at its Dame Street office and was the only bank in Ireland open on 1 January. Demand for the service far outstripped expectations and by mid-morning a long queue had formed. Long queues became the order of the day in the commercial banks during the following week also, as the general public displayed an eagerness to exchange their Irish pound cash for euro. Within a week, almost 90 per cent of cash transactions were being carried out in euro and the cash changeover was virtually complete for the general public.

The rapid switch to euro by the public meant that Irish cash flowed back to banks more quickly than anticipated. Returning this cash to the Central Bank presented an even greater logistical challenge than the distribution of euro, as it was difficult to predict when, where and in what quantities the Irish pound would be lodged to banks. Given their greater value, precedence was given to the return of Irish pound notes and stories of bank branches being cluttered with bags of Irish coin abound. The total value of Irish pound banknotes in circulation on 31 December 2001 was 4,343.8 million, while total coin was valued at 387.9 million. The withdrawal operation worked efficiently and by 14 January 2002 some 56 per cent of the banknote circulation had been returned to the Central Bank. This figure rose to 83.4 per cent by 9 February, when the Irish pound lost its legal tender status. Coin withdrawal was noticeably slower, with some 45 per cent of the total value of coin withdrawn by 9 February.

The Irish euro coins share the same design by Jarlath Hayes, that of the harp, a traditional symbol for Ireland since the Middle Ages, based on that of the Brian Boru harp, housed in Trinity College, Dublin. The same harp is used as the official seals of the Taoiseach, and government ministers and the Official Seal of the President of Ireland. The coins' design also features the 12 stars of the EU, the year of imprint and the Irish name for Ireland, "?IRE", in the traditional Gaelic script.

The Irish 2 euro coin edge inscription:

Edge

Irish circulation coins

	Ireland 2 euros - Celtic Harp Date Mintage Shop 2007 unknown View 2006 3,920,519 Buy 2005 12,037,981 Buy 2004 3,738,186 Buy 2003 2,631,076 Buy 2002 90,548,166 Buy
	Ireland 1 euro - Celtic Harp Date Mintage Shop 2007 1,850,049 View 2006 4,078,722 Buy 2005 6,824,777 Buy 2004 1,632,990 Buy 2003 2,520,700 Buy 2002 135,139,737 View
	Ireland 50 cents - Celtic Harp Date Mintage Shop 2007 4,991,002 View 2006 1,021,138 Buy 2005 17,308,568 Buy 2004 6,749,312 Buy 2003 11,812,326 Buy 2002 144,144,592 Buy
	Ireland 20 cents - Celtic Harp Date Mintage Shop 2007 12,953,789 View 2006 10,417,229 Buy 2005 40,494,062 Buy 2004 32,421,447 Buy 2003 57,142,221 Buy 2002 234,575,562 Buy
	Ireland 10 cents - Celtic Harp Date Mintage Shop 2007 54,434,307 View 2006 9,263,411 Buy 2005 4,707,786 Buy 2004 36,772,778 Buy 2003 133,815,907 Buy 2002 275,913,284 Buy
	Ireland 5 cents - Celtic Harp Date Mintage Shop 2007 36,225,742 View 2006 88,058,370 Buy 2005 56,509,380 Buy 2004 80,354,322 Buy 2003 48,352,370 Buy 2002 456,270,848 Buy
	Ireland 2 cents - Celtic Harp Date Mintage Shop 2007 84,291,248 View 2006 26,628,597 Buy 2005 72,599,884 Buy 2004 143,004,694 Buy 2003 177,290,034 Buy 2002 354,643,386 Buy
	Ireland 1 cent - Celtic Harp Date Mintage Shop 2007 18,515,843 View 2006 105,468,273 Buy 2005 127,019,391 Buy 2004 174,833,634 Buy 2003 67,902,182 Buy 2002 404,339,788 Buy