1998 Irish Euro Pattern
Ireland
1998
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Specifications
| Country | Ireland |
| Years Minted | 1998 |
| Composition | Outer ring: 75% copper, 15% nickel, 10% zinc; Center: 75% copper, 20% nickel, 5% zinc |
| Weight | 7.5 g |
| Diameter | 23.25 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Interrupted milled |
Design
Obverse
Features the Irish harp, the national emblem of Ireland, surrounded by the twelve stars of the European Union.
Reverse
Depicts a map of Europe with the denomination and the twelve stars of the European Union.
History & Notable Facts
What sets the 1998 Irish Euro pattern apart is that it was struck as a trial piece during Ireland's shift from the pound to the Euro, using designs that never made it to full production. These coins featured a harp motif on the reverse, a nod to Ireland's coat of arms, but on experimental blanks that varied in metal composition.
Details are scarce, as pattern coins like this were often produced in small quantities for evaluation by the European Commission. We know it was minted in 1998, likely at a facility in France or Germany, but exact numbers remain unrecorded—typical for prototypes that weren't meant for public eyes.
Some versions turned up in auctions, fetching prices that make you wonder if collectors are bidding on history or just the novelty. As for myths about hidden troves, I've seen enough to say they're probably as real as leprechaun gold.
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AI Analysis & Price Prediction
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