2007 – Euro coin set, “Celtic Culture”, €20 gold & €10 silver

Collectable Irish ‘Celtic Culture’ proof set from the Irish Central Bank & Financial Services Authority. The .925 sterling silver €10 and the .999 gold €20 in this set were produced by B. H. Mayer Kunstprageanstalt in Germany as part of the Europa Coin Programme, an initiative designed to promote the creation of precious metal legal tender coins from a range of EU countries. The special ‘Eurostar’ logo can be seen on the rim of the larger silver coin which has the same specifications as a UK Five Pound Crown coin. Both pieces feature a design by sculptor Mary Gregoriy on the theme of Ireland’s Celtic culture and its influence through Europe. Her work features four interlaced figures, their hands meeting in the centre of the coin in a cruciform arrangement. Their other hands hold implements that speak to Ireland’s influence past a present: a book, a fiddle, a shovel and a laptop. The obverse shows the Irish harp and the date: 2007. The gold coin in this set: denominated 20 Euro – is particularly tiny, measuring just 13.92 millimetres across. It’s part of the ‘Smallest Gold Coin Programme’ – another pan-European initiative. These coins were issued in limited numbers both in this set and individually. The numbered certificate of authenticity that comes with this coin set includes a detailed exploration of the influence of Celtic design by the artist in both English and Gaelic.