There is over €347.4 million worth of old Irish banknotes and coins missing!

Great news for collectors! Over €347,404,127 worth of old Irish banknotes and coins are missing!

Yes, you read that correctly. A massive €347,404,127 worth of old Irish banknotes and coins have yet to be handed in to the Central Bank of Ireland since the introduction of the Euro on 1st January 2002 – 18 years since the Euro Changeover! To be absolutely precise, that’s: €224,389,631.19 in old Irish bank notes…

180_ Kinsale (Corporation), Threepence (for the convenience of change). The Old Currency Exchange, Dublin, Ireland.

Irish Banknote Guide: 180(4) Kinsale Corporation (3d note)

Date: c.1804 Few people had silver or gold coins, and those who did, hoarded them and did not use them unless they really had to. Most of the smaller change in circulation was unofficial, illegal tokens. In short, there was a local currency crisis. The solution was small notes (an IOU) like the one below…