| Eire |  |
English Name: Republic of Ireland
Adjective: Irish
Language: English and Gaelic
Local Name: Eire
Currency: Irish Punt (£), now Euro
Population:
Land Area:
Capital: Dublin
On the founding of the Irish Free State in 1926 it was decided that a new Irish coinage was requried. The government had already decided that Ireland was to use a British sterling currency, rather than establish its own which it would struggle to maintain. To this end a committee was formed, chaired by poet William Butler Yeats, to decide on the new currency.
Since the 1530's the harp had been used as the national symbol on Ireland's coins, and the committee decided this should continue. Even today's Euro designs still use the harp on the obverse. The reverse design was to be either different Christian Saints, or different farm animals representing the stong agricultural nature of Ireland. In the end the committee decided that currency bearing saints would be abused by turning it into medallions and jewellery. A competition between coin designers was held, the winning artist being Percy Metcalf, whose designs graced the irish coins from 1928 to 2002.
The Irish stayed on pounds sterling up to and through decimalisation - changing to decimal currency with Britain. The only exception then being that between 1971 and 1982 Britain used the old 6 pence as 2 1/2 new pence, where the irish equivelent was withdrawn, although this was uncommon in Britain. The first deviation between the two currencies occured in 1978 when Ireland entered the European Monetary System, while Britain stayed outside. Then in 1982 Britain introduced the small 7 sided 20p piece in cupro-nickel, then the following year the small nickle-brass £1 coin. Ireland didn't introduce its 20p until 1986, a large round coin made of nickle-brass, and the large thin £1 in 1990 made from cupro-nickel.
Curiously the 5p was reduced in size at the same time as in Britain (1992) and the 10p reduced a year earlier than Britain (1993 and 1994). Although they are very similar in size I have found the 5p slightly bigger and it won't work in British slot machines.
In 2002 Ireland joined the Euro and the Irish coins were withdrawn. Click here for page on Irish Euro's.
1p  |
Date: 1988 Diameter: 20mm Material: Bronze
|
  |
Date: 1975 Diameter: 26mm Material: Bronze
|
  |
Date: 1995 Diameter: 18mm Material: Cupro-Nickel One of the newer small 5 pence pieces. |
  |
Date: 1980 Diameter: 29mm Material: Cupro-Nickel The large style 10p |
  |
Date: 2000 Diameter: 22m Material: Cupro-Nickel The small style 10p |
  |
Date: 1996 Diameter: 27mm Material: Nickel-Brass
|
  |
Date: 1999 Diameter: 31mm Material: Cupro-Nickel
|