Ireland’s collector coin programme is a chance to tell our national story in miniature. Below is my proposed set of themes for the 2027–2029 issues, connecting art, history, and identity through carefully considered designs.
2027 – Countess Constance Markievicz (100 Years Since Her Passing)
2027 marks a century since the death of Countess Markievicz, a revolutionary, politician, and cultural icon. Her coin could show her in her Irish Citizen Army uniform proud and determined framed by the Abbey Theatre that symbolised her artistic roots. The reverse might include her signature and the inscription ‘Equality & Freedom’. Markievicz was not only the first woman elected to Westminster but the first female Irish cabinet minister . A story of leadership and courage still relevant today.
2027 – The Norman Heritage
As Europe prepares to celebrate ‘The Year of the Normans’ in 2027, Ireland could join with a design depicting Trim or Kilkenny Castle, perhaps set against a Norman shield. It would be a powerful reminder of how medieval craftsmanship and law shaped Irish identity for centuries.
2027–2029 – 100 Years completion Marino Estate
Celebrate 100 years of completion of the Marino Estate in Dublin. Marino was fundamental because it was the first large-scale local authority housing project in the Irish Free State, serving as a model for affordable, high-quality housing.
2027–2029 – 100 Years of Electrification: The ESB and Shannon Scheme
The founding of the Electricity Supply Board in 1927, and the opening of the Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme in 1929, deserve to be remembered as defining national achievements. I’d love to see a two-part series ‘Lighting Up a Nation’ one coin for the ESB’s creation and another for the completion of Ardnacrusha Dam. The imagery could combine turbines, light beams, and Celtic spirals blending engineering precision with artistic flair.
2028 – A Century of Irish Coinage
2028 marks 100 years since Ireland’s first coins, those beautiful designs by Percy Metcalfe featuring the harp and animals. A modern re-imagining of the hare from the threepence coin could celebrate both artistic heritage and national identity.
2029 – 50 Years Since the Papal Visit
Finally, I’d close the series in 2029 with a design marking 50 years since Pope John Paul II’s visit , one of the largest gatherings in Irish history. The Papal Cross at Phoenix Park could stand at the centre, framed by light and the outlines of the crowd, a symbol of unity and reflection.
Together, these coins form a gallery of Irish creativity, courage, and progress from revolution and electrification to art, flight, and faith — told with the care and craft of Irish minting.
