2006 Ireland 2 Euro

The 2006 Irish 2 Euro coin features the ancient Irish harp on its national side, a design element that traces back to 16th-century coins under Henry VIII.

This bimetallic piece consists of a nickel brass outer ring and a three-ply nickel center, struck at the Irish Mint in Dublin. The common side shows the Euro map, while the edge bears an inscription of stars and the year. It's one of the standard issues from Ireland's early Euro era, with no reported variations for that year.

Mintage figures for 2006 are murky; official records from the European Central Bank don't specify exact numbers for Ireland's coins, possibly lost in administrative reshuffles. I've examined dozens of these over the years, and they're solid, everyday currency, not the mythical rarities some claim. They turn up in change jars as often as in collections.

One edge detail: the harp's strings are incised, not raised, which can wear quickly in circulation.