The new Irish €2 1916 commemorative coin Source: Jason Clarke Photography

THE 1916 CELEBRATIONS continue apace with the news that Ireland is issuing a new €2 coin today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising.

4.5 million of the new coins will be introduced into general circulation by the Central Bank from this morning, with a number of collectable versions available for purchase also.

It will be the first time that Ireland will have issued its own commemorative €2 coin into circulation.

Source: Central Bank

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The design, by Emmet Mullins, was chosen following a competition that saw 52 Irish and international designers submit proposals based on the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, as read by Pádraig Pearse outside the GPO on O’Connell Street in Dublin on 24 April 1916.

The coin features a representation of the statue of Hibernia (the historic personification of Ireland) on top of the GPO, the centenary dates and the name Hibernia in hand-rendered lettering influenced by the Book of Kells.

Source: Jason Clarke Photography

Source: Jason Clarke Photography

“We are working with the banks, An Post, and the cash in transit companies to get the coin into circulation as soon as possible,” said Paul Molumby, director of currency management at the Central Bank.

You can expect to see the coins in the coming weeks as they circulate naturally around the country.

The collectable versions of the coin will include:

A €2 uncirculated coin card

A €2 uncirculated coin bookmark

A 2016 annual mint set containing the nine 2016-dated coins and a commemorative booklet

A 2016 €2 proof quality cased coin

A 2016 proof quality nine-coin set

Later in the year, gold and silver proof €2 coins will also be released for sale, albeit with a different design (by Michael Guilfoyle) incorporating words and phrases from the proclamation. You can learn more about that set of coins along with the above special editions released today here.