Obverse: The set consists of eight 2002 Irish euro coins ranging from 1 cent to 2 euros. The national side of every denomination features the same motif – the traditional Celtic harp, one of the oldest and most important symbols of the Irish state. Beside the harp are the country's name in Irish, ÉIRE, and the year of issue 2002. The composition is surrounded by the 12 stars of the European Union.
Reverse: The reverse of the coins features the first common European design corresponding to each euro denomination. The 1, 2 and 5 cent coins depict Europe in relation to the world, while the 10, 20 and 50 cent and €1 and €2 coins depict the European Union member states of the time. The common sides of the euro coins were designed by Luc Luycx.
About the coins: The 2002 coins are Ireland's first euro coins issued for circulation. Euro banknotes and coins officially entered circulation in Ireland on 1 January 2002, replacing the Irish pound. Unlike many other euro area countries, Ireland selected a single national motif for all eight coin denominations. The harp design was created by Irish artist Jarlath Hayes. The harp has been used as a symbol of Ireland since the Middle Ages, so its selection for the new euro coins continued the country's long tradition of coinage and national symbolism. Around 1.1 billion euro coins were produced for Ireland before the introduction of the euro to ensure a smooth transition to the new currency.
