Ireland

2016

Commemorative coin

100 years since the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland

Official Journal of the European Union

The designs shows the statue of Hibernia which stands on the top of the General Post Office building whose seizure back in 1916 marked the beginning of the Easter rising. She is a symbol of Ireland. Her name was taken from the ancient Greek reference for Ireland and her form was realised by the sculptor John Smyth. She is viewed as a witness to the events of 1916 and for one hundred years since she has seen the nation blossom before her based on the ideals set out in the Proclamation. She continues to look forward and is a symbol of the past, present and future of the country. At the top of the inner circle, the inscription ‘HIBERNIA’ appears in hand-rendered lettering that takes influence form the historic Book of Kells. The sunrays reflect well the underlying concept of the Rising and the Proclamation e.g. dawning of the new nation/Republic. The image of the statue is flanked by the years ‘1916’ and ‘2016’. At the bottom of the inner circle appears the name of the issuing country ‘éire’ and underneath it the year of issuance ‘2016’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The Easter Rising of 1916 (Irish Éirí Amach na Cásca, English Easter Rising) was an attempt by militant Irish republicans to force Ireland's independence from the United Kingdom. Although it failed militarily, it is considered a turning point in the history of Ireland, which - after the War of Independence in 1919-1921 - ultimately led to independence. The first national Irish €2 commemorative coin depicts the statue of Hibernia, a symbol of Ireland, created by John Smyth (1773-1840), with a harp on his left and a spear in his right hand above the portico of the Dublin General Post Office, completed in 1818, which marked the beginning of the Easter Rising in 1916. The statue, whose name is derived from the ancient Greek name of the island, is considered a witness to the events of 1916 and, for a hundred years, a symbol of the country's development based on the ideals of Patrick Pearse's proclamation. Its gaze is directed towards the future; it is a symbol of the past, present and future of the country.

Edge lettering

Designer