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A swish new €2 coin comes into circulation today to commemorate 1916

It will be the first time Ireland has introduced a personalised €2 coin.

Central Bank The new Irish €2 1916 commemorative coin Jason Clarke Photography Jason Clarke Photography

THE 1916 CELEBRATIONS continue apace with the news that Ireland is issuing a new €2 coin today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising.
4.5 million of the new coins will be introduced into general circulation by the Central Bank from this morning, with a number of collectable versions available for purchase also.

It will be the first time that Ireland will have issued its own commemorative €2 coin into circulation.

cbinfo Central Bank Central Bank

Click here to view a larger image

The design, by Emmet Mullins, was chosen following a competition that saw 52 Irish and international designers submit proposals based on the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, as read by Pádraig Pearse outside the GPO on O’Connell Street in Dublin on 24 April 1916.

The coin features a representation of the statue of Hibernia (the historic personification of Ireland) on top of the GPO, the centenary dates and the name Hibernia in hand-rendered lettering influenced by the Book of Kells.

Central Bank Jason Clarke Photography Jason Clarke Photography

Central Bank Jason Clarke Photography Jason Clarke Photography

“We are working with the banks, An Post, and the cash in transit companies to get the coin into circulation as soon as possible,” said Paul Molumby, director of currency management at the Central Bank.

You can expect to see the coins in the coming weeks as they circulate naturally around the country.

The collectable versions of the coin will include:

  • A €2 uncirculated coin card
  • A €2 uncirculated coin bookmark
  • A 2016 annual mint set containing the nine 2016-dated coins and a commemorative booklet
  • A 2016 €2 proof quality cased coin
  • A 2016 proof quality nine-coin set

Later in the year, gold and silver proof €2 coins will also be released for sale, albeit with a different design (by Michael Guilfoyle) incorporating words and phrases from the proclamation. You can learn more about that set of coins along with the above special editions released today here.

Read: Publicans say ‘archaic’ Good Friday alcohol ban should be lifted ahead of 1916 centenary

Read: Gerry Adams will speak to the nation on the eve of the Rising centenary

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    Mute Munster1
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    May 11th 2022, 7:28 PM

    We are a small country with services stretched to breaking point thanks to Fine Fail Fine Gael. We must prioritise our people while providing protection to refugees that we can handle.

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    Mute Robert Johnson Fagan
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    May 11th 2022, 7:40 PM

    I’m waiting for the comments from the underclass who help absolutely nobody – ‘“ere wha abou de homeless and de peeples on de trollies in de hospitals”

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    Mute Bobby Jones
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    May 11th 2022, 8:07 PM

    @Robert Johnson Fagan: The underclass ? Explain please.

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    Mute John Lynch
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    May 11th 2022, 9:40 PM

    @Robert Johnson Fagan: Underclass = poor who need housing and health.
    I suggest cutting the millions which are given to ‘charity’ NGOs and advocacy groups. Does anyone know how many and how much the are costing?

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    Mute Em Gee
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    May 12th 2022, 2:01 PM

    @John Lynch: It makes sense to help our poor who need housing and healthcare. However for some, especially the chattering classes who like to be seen doing the “right thing”, telescopic philanthropy is sexier.

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    Mute SteveBuzzard
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    May 14th 2022, 12:50 PM

    @Robert Johnson Fagan:

    You being in the Upper Class no doubt? lol

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    Mute John Lynch
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    May 12th 2022, 7:14 PM

    This piece we are commenting on is classic NGO advocacy output.
    They are onto Ukraine like vultures.
    If there is fighting to be done – it will be the underclass who will be called to do it.

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    Mute Billy
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    May 14th 2022, 10:01 AM

    If “Women, children and older people make up the vast majority of this population” then why is it that in every single photo I see of Ukrainian refugees that have arrived here there are a large number of men under the age of forty, all of whom seem to have a completely different ethnic background to the women?

    https://carlow-nationalist.ie/2022/04/15/carlow-takes-in-200-ukrainian-refugees
    https://carlow-nationalist.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Joe-OBrien-TD-visit-to-Carlow-College-s-4.jpg

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