The Central Bank of Ireland will today issue a €2 commemorative coin which celebrates 10 years of euro banknotes and coins.
The commemorative coin will be issued in all euro countries this year, and will bear a common design on the national side. The design will replace the traditional harp design in Ireland.
A maximum of 3 million coins will be issued by the Central Bank.
The winning design was chosen by citizens of the euro area in an online vote. The design was created by Helmut Andexlinger, a professional design at the Austrian Mint.
It is the third €2 commemorative coin to be issued by the Central Bank. The first was in 2007 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and the second was in 2009 celebrating 10 years of the EMU.
While the Central Bank will issue the new €2 coins to Irish banks today, it may take some weeks before they are widely available in circulation.
