Ireland

The Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the inscription "Éire" − the Irish word for Ireland. The harp shown was designed by Jarlath Hayes.

The Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the inscription "Éire" − the Irish word for Ireland. The harp shown was designed by Jarlath Hayes.

The Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the inscription "Éire" − the Irish word for Ireland. The harp shown was designed by Jarlath Hayes.

The Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the inscription "Éire" − the Irish word for Ireland. The harp shown was designed by Jarlath Hayes.

The Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the inscription "Éire" − the Irish word for Ireland. The harp shown was designed by Jarlath Hayes.

The Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the inscription "Éire" − the Irish word for Ireland. The harp shown was designed by Jarlath Hayes.

The Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the inscription "Éire" − the Irish word for Ireland. The harp shown was designed by Jarlath Hayes.

The Celtic harp, a traditional symbol of Ireland, decorated with the year of issue and the inscription "Éire" − the Irish word for Ireland. The harp shown was designed by Jarlath Hayes. The edge lettering on the €2 coin is ‘2**’, repeated six times, alternately upright and inverted.

The design bears the first sitting of Dáil Éireann in the Round Room. The Governance of the Irish nation began on the 21st of January and the sitting was conducted entirely in the Irish language to mark the symbolic nature of the meeting. The large Round Room of the Mansion House arcs above the vast congregation of the nation’s first elected Dáil. The words ‘An Chéad Dáil’, at the centre of the design, together with the year ‘1919’ at the top, are inscribed in a traditional uncial font. At the bottom are inscribed the name of the country and the year of issuance ‘ÉIRE 2019’. The coin’s outer ring bears the 12 stars of the European Union.

The designs shows the statue of Hibernia which stands on the top of the General Post Office building whose seizure back in 1916 marked the beginning of the Easter rising. She is a symbol of Ireland. Her name was taken from the ancient Greek reference for Ireland and her form was realised by the sculptor John Smyth. She is viewed as a witness to the events of 1916 and for one hundred years since she has seen the nation blossom before her based on the ideals set out in the Proclamation. She continues to look forward and is a symbol of the past, present and future of the country.

Common issue

Twelve stars that morph into human figures are embracing the birth of a new Europe. The design shows the EU flag as a symbol that unites people and cultures with shared visions and ideals for a better common future.

Common issue

The Euro-sign in the centre of the coin shows that the Euro has become an element of particular importance in Europe as well all over the world as the Euro evolved to a global player in the international monetary system in the last 10 years. The design elements around the Euro-symbol on the coin express the importance of the Euro to the people, to the financial world (ECB tower), to trading (ships), to industry (factories), to the energy sector and research and development (wind power stations). The initials AH of the artist appear under the image of the ECB tower. The name(s) of the issuing country in the national language(s) appear(s) at the top, while the indication 2002-2012 appears at the bottom.

Common issue

The centre of the coin shows a stylised human figure whose left arm is prolonged by the euro symbol. The initials ΓΣ of the artist appear below the euro symbol. The name(s) of the issuing country in the national language(s) appear(s) at the top, while the indication 1999-2009 and the acronym EMU translated into the national language(s) appear at the bottom.

Common issue

The coin shows the treaty with the signatures of the six founding countries on a background evoking the paving – designed by Michelangelo – of the Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome, where the Treaty was signed on 25 March 1957, giving birth to the modern-day European Union.