Ireland Currency Symbol: A Comprehensive Guide

The Euro is the official currency of Ireland, and it's widely accepted as the country's standard unit of exchange. You'll see it everywhere from ATMs to shops.

The Euro is divided into 100 cents, and you'll often see prices listed with a Euro symbol (€) followed by the amount in euros. For example, a coffee might cost €2.50.

In Ireland, you can exchange your money for euros at banks, currency exchange offices, or even some hotels. Credit cards are also widely accepted, making it easy to get by without cash.

The Irish pound has a rich history that spans centuries. The earliest Irish coinage was introduced in the late 10th century, with an £sd system of one pound divided into twenty shillings.

The relationship between the Irish pound and sterling was fixed at £13 Irish to £12 sterling in 1701. This parity made it possible for Irish copper coins to circulate with English silver coins. However, from 1460, Irish coins were minted with a different silver content than those of England, so that the values of the two currencies diverged.

The Kingdom of Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, but the Irish pound continued to circulate until January 1826. The last copper coins of the Irish pound were minted in 1823, and in 1826 the Irish pound was merged with the pound sterling.

The Irish Free State introduced its own currency from 1928, pegged at 1:1 with sterling. The new Free State pound was defined by the 1927 Act to have exactly the same weight and fineness of gold as did the sovereign at the time. Distinctive coins and notes were introduced, with the Irish names punt, scilling, and pingin.

The Irish pound was renamed the Irish pound in 1938, following the official change of the state's name to "Ireland" in 1937. The £sd system was used, with the Irish names punt, scilling, and pingin.

The Decimal Currency Act 1969 replaced the traditional shilling and penny with a centesimal subdivision, the "new penny" (pingin nua). The new 5p coin correlated with the shilling coin, and the new 10p coin correlated with the florin coin. New coins were issued of the same dimensions and materials as the corresponding new British coins.

Here are the key dates in the history of Irish currency:

The Saorstát pound was introduced in 1928 by the new Irish Free State. This marked a significant shift from using sterling after independence in 1922.

The new Free State pound was pegged at 1:1 with sterling, thanks to the 1927 Act that defined it to have the same weight and fineness of gold as the sovereign at the time. De facto parity with sterling was maintained for another fifty years.

In 1928, distinctive coins and notes were introduced, featuring the Irish names punt (plural: puint), scilling (plural: scillingí) and pingin (plural: pinginí). The coins came in eight denominations, with all but the 3d and 6d having the same dimensions as their British counterparts.

The Irish coins were thicker nickel coins, in contrast to the thin silver ones issued in the UK. A 10/– coin was introduced in 1966, but it was a commemorative piece not meant for circulation.

The name of the state was officially changed to "Ireland" (Irish: Éire) on 29 December 1937. On 10 May 1938, the name of the currency became the Irish pound.

Here's a list of the coin denominations introduced in 1928:

Decimalisation was a significant change in Ireland's currency history. The first formal report on decimalisation was the Report of the Metric System and Decimal Coinage Committee in 1959.

The British government's decision to decimalise its currency prompted the Irish government to follow suit. The Decimal Currency Act 1969 replaced the traditional shilling and penny with a centesimal subdivision called the "new penny" (pingin nua).

The new penny was symbolised with the letter "p". The pound itself was not revalued by this act, so banknotes remained unaffected. However, the 10/– note was replaced by a 50p coin due to spiralling inflation.

The new 5p coin correlated with the shilling coin, and the new 10p coin correlated with the florin coin. New coins were issued of the same dimensions and materials as the corresponding new British coins.

The Irish Decimal Currency Board was created on 12 June 1968 to oversee the changeover. It provided information to the public, including a pamphlet called Everyone's Guide to Decimal Currency.

The changeover occurred on Decimal Day, 15 February 1971. The Decimal Currency Act 1970 made additional provisions for the changeover not related to the issue of coins.

The European Monetary System was introduced in the 1970s, and Ireland decided to join it in 1978, while the United Kingdom stayed out.

In 1978, the Currency Centre at Sandyford was created, allowing banknotes and coinage to be manufactured within the state, a significant change from having them printed and minted in England.

The European Exchange Rate Mechanism finally broke the one-for-one link between the Irish pound and the pound sterling on 30 March 1979, introducing an exchange rate.

All decimal Irish coins were the same shape and size as their UK counterparts until 1986, when the new 20p coin was introduced, marking a change in design.

The new 20p coin and the £1 coin introduced in 1990 were completely different in size, shape, and composition from the previously introduced UK versions.

Despite not being legal tender, British sterling coins of the same shape and size were customarily accepted in Ireland, including the 1p, 2p, and 5p coins at the time of the euro's introduction.

Ireland adopted the euro as its official currency on January 1, 1999, but it wasn't until 2002 that the country started to withdraw Irish pound coins and notes, replacing them with euro notes and coins.

The fixed conversion factor for the Irish pound was EUR1.00 = IEP0.787564, which meant that the Irish pound was worth more than one euro – almost EUR1.27 in fact.

Ireland's Central Bank in Dublin allowed people to redeem all Irish coins and banknotes, from the start of the Irish Free State onwards, for euros.

Irish pound coins and notes ceased to be legal tender on February 9, 2002, marking the end of an era for the Irish currency.

The adoption of the euro was a significant event in Ireland's economic history, and it paved the way for the country's continued integration into the European Union.

The euro has been Ireland's official currency since January 1, 1999. You can use euros from Ireland in the rest of the Eurozone, and vice versa.

The exchange rate between the Irish pound and the euro was fixed on December 31, 1998, with the Irish pound being worth almost EUR1.27 for every euro. This means that if you have euros from Ireland, you can use them in other Eurozone countries without any issues.

Irish pound coins and notes ceased to be legal tender on February 9, 2002, but you can still redeem them for euros at Ireland's Central Bank in Dublin. If you're planning to travel to other Eurozone countries, you can use euros from Ireland without any problems.

You can use euros from Ireland in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

Ireland's currency is the Euro, which is broken down into 100 cents. The Euro symbol is €, but you might see the three-letter ISO code EUR online or in currency exchange stores.

The Euro is issued by the European Central Bank and is used by 20 countries in Europe, known as the Eurozone. Each of these countries has adopted the Euro as their official currency, replacing their own national currency.

The Euro was adopted by Ireland on January 1st, 1999, replacing the Irish Pound.

In most non-English-speaking European countries, the currency symbol follows the amount and is preceded by a space.

This means that if you're in Ireland, for example, you would write the amount with the symbol after it, like this: €5.

In English-speaking countries, the currency symbol comes before the amount and there is no space.

The official currency in Ireland is the Euro.

You'll often see the Euro symbol listed in stores and restaurants: €.

Online and in currency exchange stores, you're more likely to see the three-letter ISO code: EUR.

Each Euro is broken down into 100 cents.

Ireland adopted the Euro on 1st January, 1999.

The Euro is issued by the European Central Bank.

The Euro is used by 20 countries within Europe, referred to as the 'Eurozone'.

Ireland's currency is the Euro, and it's quite distinctive in design and colour scheme. The notes feature a mix of greens, reds, blues, and yellows.

The larger notes are not only more valuable, but they're also bigger in size. A €500 note is 25% wider than a €5 note.

Prices in Ireland can be quite reasonable, especially when compared to other European countries.

A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will cost you around €15.00 (AU$23.10). This is a great option for travelers on a budget.

You can also expect to pay around €5.50 (AU$8.47) for a pint of beer. This is a common price for a drink in a pub.

A cup of coffee will set you back around €3.43 (AU$5.28). This is a relatively standard price for a coffee in a café.

If you're looking to stay hydrated, a bottle of water will cost you around €1.49 (AU$2.29).