New Currency - New Stamps

2 January 2002

New Currency - New Stamps


Twenty new stamps - the first to be denominated solely in euro - go on sale today (Wednesday, January 2) at post offices around the country and mark the introduction of the new currency.

Seventeen definitives continue the familiar Birds of Ireland issue while three others commemorate the currency changeover by featuring the old and new coinage.

The new release of definitives include the Magpie (one cent); Gannet (two cent) Corncrake (four cent); Kingfisher (ten cent) and the Shellduck (ten euro). These are featured on a special first day cover - costing 7.60 euro - and were in the original issue of bird stamps in 1997.

A second first day cover, costing 10.68 euro, features the Blue Tit (three cent); Woodpigeon (five cent); Grey Heron (50 cent); Roseate Tern (51 cent); Barnacle Goose (one euro) and Pintail (five euro).

A third first day cover (4.51 euro) features the Lapwing (20 cent); Blackbird (38 cent); Robin (44 cent) and Greenland White-fronted Goose (two euro). The Chaffinch (41 cent) and the Curlew (57 cent) are new additions to the series.

The stamps celebrating the euro coinage feature Ireland’s pre-decimal; decimal and euro currencies. The 38 cent stamps shows the national side of the new Irish euro coin. The 50p coin which was in circulation from 1970 to 2001 is shown on the 41 cent stamp.

The old one penny (1d) coin is featured on the 57 cent stamp. The penny was amongst the first coins issued by the State and was in circulation from 1928 to 1971. The stamps and the first day cover (1.87 euro) were designed by Q Design.