Press Release 3 January 2012
The Central Bank of Ireland today issued into circulation a €2 commemorative coin which celebrates 10 years of the euro in circulation. The coin is being issued in all euro area countries and bears a common design on the national side. In Ireland, the design appears in place of the harp and is inscribed with ‘éire’ along with the years 2002-2012.
The coin is the third €2 commemorative coin to be issued by the Central Bank. The first was issued in 2007 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and the second was in 2009 to celebrate ten years of the Economic and Monetary Union.
The coin was created by Helmut Andexlinger, a professional designer at the Austrian Mint, whose design was chosen by the citizens and residents of the euro area using internet voting. The design elements surrounding the euro symbol on the coin depict people, the financial world, trading, industry, the energy sector, and research and development.
A maximum of three million coins will be issued by the Central Bank which will have legal tender status throughout the euro area.