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…

The 2008 €100 gold coin (polar explorers) - the largest (28mm diameter) and heaviest (half ounce) Irish gold coin to date.

O’Brien Coin Guide: Irish Commemorative Euro Coins

Most of the coins listed below were struck as ‘proofs’ – the exception being the first of the series, the €5 Special Olympics coin.  This was a cupro-nickel coin and is available as BU mini-presentation folder.  In addition to this, all other coins were struck in either Sterling silver or gold and are issued in…

1961 Ireland Halfcrown - the differences between the normal and mule reverse

O’Brien Coin Guide: How to identify the Irish 1961 Halfcrown ‘Mule’ variety

The 1961 ‘mule’ halfcrown was struck in error (or, possibly deliberately) from a reverse die from the 1928-37 type.  In 1938 the halfcrown reverse – the side with the horse on it – had been redesigned to improve the striking characteristics of the coin.  A single example of the 1938 trial of the new die…