Since 2002 Ireland has struck euro coins with the harp — the one constant of Irish coinage since 1928 — on the national side, denominations 1c through €2. The €2 coin carries Ireland’s commemorative program. This entry covers the switchover facts and what euro-era collectors look for.
Key facts
- Euro coins and banknotes physically replaced the punt in 2002; the euro had been Ireland’s accounting currency since 1999; fixed conversion rate €1 = IR£0.787564.
- Denominations: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2; the Irish national side carries the harp with “ÉIRE”.
- Ireland has issued commemorative €2 coins since the euro era began (e.g., common-issue EU commemoratives); Irish-dedicated commemorative €2 designs are the collectible focus of the euro series.
- Pre-euro Irish coins were withdrawn 10 February 2002; punt-era coins remain a separate collecting field from euro issues.