2019 Irish Coin Program dedicated to Dáil Éireann

The Central Bank of Ireland has communicated the highlights of its 2019 annual coin minting program. It is based on several numismatic issues dedicated to the first legislature of the Dáil Éireann, the Irish Parliament of 1919.

2019 will mark the centenary of the first sitting of Dáil Éireann, in Dublin’s Mansion House. This took place on 21 January 2019, the same day as the outbreak of the Irish War of Independence.

1919 Dáil Éireann’s members – the “irish founding fathers”

“We ordain that the elected Representatives of the Irish people alone have power to make laws binding on the people of Ireland, and that the Irish Parliament is the only Parliament to which that people will give its allegiance”

From the Declaration of Independence, Dáil Éireann, 21 January 1919

To mark this significant event in Irish history the following commemorative coin products will be issued:

• Half-ounce Commemorative Gold Proof Coin

The Central Bank will issue a special €100 gold coin to commemorate the meeting of the First Dáil, which will have an issue limit of 1,000 coins and which will be available to buy in the coming weeks.

The Central Bank also issued a €100 gold coin to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, which was sold out in less than 24 hours.

• 2019 irish gold €100 coin dedicated to First Dail

• Annual Proof Set

The annual proof set is a limited edition of 1 000 sets. It contains a proof €2 “First Dail”.

This collector is for sale since may 15th 2019 on the CBI e-shop (clic here).

2019 irish proof set with the rare 2019 proof €2 commemorative coin (only 1 000 coins!)

• Annual BU Set

This set is announced in june 2019 and will contain also  the 2019 First Dail commemorative €2 coin.

• €2 commemorative coin “An chead dail”

2019 irish €2 commemorative coin First Dail

The Central Bank of Ireland will mint one million €2 coins, for general circulation in 2019, to commemorate the centenary of the meeting of the First Dáil in the Mansion House on 21 January 1919.

This is only the second time that the Central Bank of Ireland has issued a special circulating euro coin. In 2016, the Central Bank issued 4.5 million special €2 coins to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Governor Philip R. Lane launched this special €2 coin at the Mansion House on 16 January.

Emmet Mullins designed both coins which contain the words ‘An Chéad Dáil’ (The First Dáil), surrounded by images of the first TDs in attendance at the landmark meeting. It was the first meeting of the Sinn Féin MPs who had been elected to the House of Commons on a platform of abstentionism, and, whom instead of taking their seats in Westminster, chose to set up a new parliament in Dublin.

Emmett MULLINS, famous irish engraver, designed the new irish

€2 commemorative coin (photo: Jason CLARKE)

Paul Molumby, Director of Currency & Facilities Management said:

“The Central Bank is delighted to be launching both a circulating €2 coin and a commemorative €100 gold coin to celebrate the centenary of the meeting of the First Dáil. The meeting of the First Dáil in the Mansion House was a landmark moment on the road to the establishment of the Irish state, and it is quite fitting that we should honour that moment in this way one hundred years on.

People all over Ireland, and indeed, all over Europe, should keep an eye out for this special €2 coin which will be going into general circulation shortly.”

Paul MOLUMBY, cash and currency manager – CBI

Two silver proof commemorative coins will be issued in 2019.

• €15 Silver Proof Coin to Commemorate 100 Years since the First Trans-Atlantic Flight

On 15 June 1919 the first trans-Atlantic flight in history, flown by aviators John Alcock and Arthur Brown, landed in Clifden Co. Galway. This was the first crossing of the Atlantic-Ocean by aeroplane in less than 72 consecutive hours.

€15 Silver Proof Phil Lynott Coin, as part of the 3-year Modern Irish Musicians Series

This will be the second coin in the three year series called ‘Modern Irish Musicians.’ The Phil Lynott coin will commemorate the 70th anniversary of his birth in 1949. The coin follows the Rory Gallagher coin in 2018 and will be superseded by a coin to commemorate the 80th anniversary since the birth of Luke Kelly.

Sources: Irish Central Bank and NUMISMAG – photos Irish National Library and NUMISMAG.