Ireland 50 Euro Cent 2007-2023

History

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

Description

On 7 June 2005, the European Council decided that the common side of the €0.10 to €2 coins should be brought up to date to reflect the enlargement of the EU in 2004. The €0.01, €0.02 and €0.05 coins show Europe in relation to the rest of the world, therefore they remained unchanged. In 2007, the new design was introduced. The design still retains all elements of the original designs but the map of the fifteen states is replaced by one showing the whole of Europe as a continent, without borders, to stress unity.

Obverse	Music (instrument, notes etc.) Harp Depicts the harp, a traditional symbol for Ireland since the Middle Ages, based on that of the Brian Boru harp, housed in Trinity College, Dublin. The same harp is used as on the official seals of the Taoiseach, and government ministers and the Seal of the President of Ireland. The coins' design also features the 12 stars of the flag of Europe, the year of issue and the Irish name for Ireland, "Éire", in a traditional Gaelic script. Engraver: Jarlath Hayes éire 2011
Reverse	Geography & astronomy Map A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the left side of the coin. 12 stars are located on the left side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments. Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “0” in “50.” 50 LL EURO CENT
Edge	Indented