Ireland

Irish euro coins all share the same design by the hand of Jarlath Hayes, that of the harp, a traditional symbol for Ireland since the Middle Ages, based on that of the Brian Boru Harp, housed in Trinity College Dublin, and said to have once been owned by ancient High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. The same harp is used as the official Irish state symbol, the Great Seal of Ireland. The coins’ design also features the 12 stars of the EU, the year of imprint and the Irish language word for Ireland, ”Éire”, in the traditional Gaelic script alphabet.