Medb, the legendary Queen of Connacht, whose infidelity and violence were also legendary, was chosen for the Irish pound banknote for "Series B" introduced in 1976 and withdrawn in 1993.

The state now called the Republic of Ireland decided in the mid-1920s to design its own coins and banknotes, at this stage it was decided that the Irish currency would be pegged to the Pound Sterling. The Currency Act, 1927 (http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1927_32.html) was passed as a basis for the creation of banknotes and the creation of the "Saorstát pound" (later the "Irish pound") as the "standard unit of value" and the legal tender notes issued under this act commenced circulation on September 10, 1928. In Irish mythology Medb (Medhbh, Maeve) is queen of Connacht during the events of the Ulster Cycle. ... A IR£1 coin, featuring the Irish red deer. ... See also: 1975 in Ireland, 1977 in Ireland and the list of years in Ireland. Events January 5 - Former Taoiseach, John A. Costello, dies in Dublin aged 84. ... See also: 1992 in Ireland, 1994 in Ireland and the list of years in Ireland. Events January 1 - The Single European Market comes into effect. ... Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s - 1920s - 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 Referred to as the Roaring 20s. ... 1¢ euro coin A coin is generally a piece of hard material, generally metal and usually in the shape of a disc, which is used as a form of money. ... A £20 Ulster Bank banknote. ... The pound sterling, which strictly speaking refers to basic currency unit of sterling, now the pound, can generally refer to the currency of the United Kingdom (UK). ... A IR£1 coin, featuring the Irish red deer. ... Various currencies A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of goods and services. ... Legal tender is payment that cannot be refused in settlement of a debt. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

See also: Coinage of the Republic of Ireland

Background

When the Irish Free State came into existence in 1922 three categories of banknote were in circulation. These consisted of notes issued by the Bank of England, the British Treasury and six Irish banks then in existence who were chartered to issue notes. Only British Treasury notes had legal tender status within the state. The issuing of banknotes by multiple private institutions was an everyday aspect of banking in the British Isles at the time and indeed remains so in Northern Ireland today. The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish... 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A £20 Ulster Bank banknote. ... The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom, sometimes known as The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street or The Old Lady. The Bank of England Functions of the bank It performs all the recognized functions of a central bank -- to maintain price stability, and subject to... The new eastern entrance to HM Treasury HM Treasury (Her/His Majestys Treasury) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for and putting into effect the UK Governments financial and economic policy. ... Alternate use, see charter airline or bare-boat charter. ... Legal tender is payment that cannot be refused in settlement of a debt. ... British Isles is also an old name for the Great Britain, Great Britain Ireland The Isle of Man The Isle of Wight The Northern Isles, including Orkney, Shetland and Fair Isle The Hebrides, including the Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides and Small Isles Rockall The islands of the lower Firth of... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ...

A banking commission was created in 1926 to determine what changes were necessary in relation to banking and banknote issue in the new state. The commission was chaired by Professor Henry Parker-Willis of Columbia University who was Director of Research of the Federal Reserve Board in the United States. The commission recommended the creation of a currency for the state, but one that would be directly backed and fixed to the pound sterling in the United Kingdom on a one-for-one basis. This new currency, the "Saorstát pound", was overseen by the politically independent Currency Commission created by the Currency Act, 1927. As a result of the backing by the pound sterling the notes of the Commission could be presented at the Bank of England, London and exchanged with the pound sterling, without charge or commission, on a one-for-one basis. 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Columbia University is a private university in New York City. ... The Federal Reserve System is headquartered in the Eccles Building on Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC. The Federal Reserve System (also the Federal Reserve; informally The Fed) is the central bank of the United States. ... The pound sterling, which strictly speaking refers to basic currency unit of sterling, now the pound, can generally refer to the currency of the United Kingdom (UK). ... Greater London and the Regions of England. ...

The pound

Before the advent of the euro three series of notes were issued which held legal tender status; these are generally referred to as "Series A", "Series B" and "Series C" respectively. A series of notes, the "Consolidated Banknotes" were issued but were never legal tender.

Series A: 1928-1977

Main article: Series A Banknotes of the Republic of Ireland

The initial series of notes, called "Series A", was devised by the Currency Commission, these notes were printed by Waterlow and Sons, Limited, London which was acquired by De La Rue. The commission created an advisory committee which determined the theme and design of the notes. Notes were in the denominations of 10/-, £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, and £100. Each note has a portrait of an Irish colleen, believed to be Lady Lavery – wife of the artist Sir John Lavery, who was commissioned to design this feature. De La Rue is a British commercial printer and papermaker. ... Sir is an honorary title. ... John Lavery (Born Belfast, 20 March 1856, died Kilkenny, 10 January 1941) was an Irish painter best known for his portraits. ...

The predominant theme on the notes is the rivers of Ireland, which are depicted as heads taken from the Custom House, Dublin. Whilst there was some uncertainty as to which rivers were depicted, it is agreed that rivers in the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland were chosen. Each note also contains a watermark of the Head of Erin. Geography of Irish Rivers Main Article: Geography of Ireland The main river in Ireland is the River Shannon, 386 km (240 mi), the longest river in either Britain or Ireland, which separates the boggy midlands of Ireland from the West of Ireland. ... The south facade of the Custom House by night The Custom House is a palladian 18th century building in Dublin, Ireland which houses the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. ... Dublins Hapenny Bridge. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ...

A number of changes were made to the notes when the Irish Free State changed its name in accordance with the Constitution of Ireland in 1937. Additional changes were made when the Commission was superseded by the Central Bank of Ireland in 1943. Notes issued on and from 1961 no longer beared the promise of exchange in London. The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish... The Constitution of Ireland is the founding legal document of the state known today as the Republic of Ireland. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Banc Ceannais na hÉireann or the Central Bank of Ireland is the Republic of Ireland which had control of the issue of Irish banknotes and coins. ...

Series B: 1976-1993

Main article: Series B Banknotes of the Republic of Ireland

This series of notes called "Series B" was commissioned by the Central Bank of Ireland and were designed and brought into circulation between 1976 and 1982. Servicon, an Irish design company, was employed to design the notes of the denominations; £1, £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100. The £100 note was never issued or circulated. This remains somewhat of an idiosyncrasy in the issue of Irish banknotes as this is the only series without a note of this denomination. 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1982 is a number and represents a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar Events January-February January 6 - William Bonin is convicted of being the freeway killer. January 8 - AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 - Mark Thatcher, son of the British...

The theme chosen for these notes was history of Ireland, and each note featured the portrait of a person with this theme in mind from a particular era from historic to modern. The Lady Lavery portrait, from Series A, was retained but this time as a watermark. Ireland is an island in north-western Europe. ...

Series C: 1992-2000

Main article: Series C Banknotes of the Republic of Ireland

This series of notes called "Series C" was the outcome of a limited competition held in 1991 in which nine Irish artists were invited. The winner and designer of the series was Robert Ballagh. This series of notes had denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100, no Irish pound note was designed as the currency had a coin of this value since 1990. This series was introduced at short notice, with the £20 being the first to be issued, following widespread forgery of the Series B £20 note. This is a list of visual artists born or working mainly in Ireland along with a list of critics, collectors and curators who have had an influence on Irish visual arts. ... Robert Ballagh (born 1943) is an Irish artist. ... A IR£1 coin, featuring the Irish red deer. ... 1¢ euro coin A coin is generally a piece of hard material, generally metal and usually in the shape of a disc, which is used as a form of money. ... See also: 1989 in Ireland, 1991 in Ireland and the list of years in Ireland. Events January 1 - The Northern Ireland Fair Employment Act becomes law. ...

The theme for this series was people who contributed to the formation of a modern Ireland, and to this effect it includes politicians, a language, literary and religious figure. The political figures do not include anyone directly associated with the Irish War of Independence (which eventually lead to the creation of the Irish Free State) as this might have proved controversial. An Irish War of Independence memorial in Dublin The Anglo-Irish War (also known as the Irish War of Independence) was a guerilla campaign mounted against the British government in Ireland by the Irish Republican Army. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish...

Consolidated Banknotes: 1929-1953

This series of banknotes were never legal tender notes but essentially equivalent to "promissory notes" that continue to be issued by some banks in the United Kingdom. These notes were issued as a transitional measure for eight banks ("Shareholding Banks" of the Currency Commission); Bank of Ireland, Hibernian Bank Limited, Munster & Leinster Bank Limited, National Bank Limited, Northern Bank Limited, Provincial Bank of Ireland Limited, Royal Bank of Ireland Limited and Ulster Bank Limited. These notes were issued, first, between May 6 and June 10 of 1929 under the arrangement that the banks withdraw previous notes they issued and refrained from issue of furthur notes. The consolidated notes were only issued by the Currency Commission and the last notes were printed in 1941, the notes were officially withdrawn on December 31, 1953. A promissory note is a contract detailing the terms of a loan. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (162nd in leap years), with 204 days remaining. ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Each note contained the common design of a man ploughing in a field with two horses on the front and they are often referred to as the "Ploughman Notes" because of this, the main differences were the name of the bank and its authorising signature. The notes denominations, and the back designs were; £1 (Custom House, Dublin), £5 (St. Patrick's Bridge, Cork), £10 (Currency Commission Building, Foster Place, Dublin), £20 (Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary), £50 (Croagh Patrick, County Mayo) and £100 (Killiney Bay, County Dublin). The south facade of the Custom House by night The Custom House is a palladian 18th century building in Dublin, Ireland which houses the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. ... Dublins Hapenny Bridge. ... Cork - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... High Cross at the Rock of Cashel. ... County Tipperary (Tiobraid Árainn in Irish) is a county in the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Munster. ... Croagh Patrick (Cruach Phádraig in Irish), known locally as the Reek, is a mountain in the west of Ireland in County Mayo. ... County Mayo (Irish: Maigh Eo) is a county on the west coast of Ireland. ... Dublin (Irish Áth Cliath) is the county that contains the City of Dublin, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland. ...

The euro

Main article: Euro banknotes The euro symbol The euro (EUR or €) is the single currency for many countries within the European Union. ...

The Central Bank of Ireland, as an agent of the European Central Bank, produces euro banknotes at its Currency Centre in Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin. Banc Ceannais na hÉireann or the Central Bank of Ireland is the Republic of Ireland which had control of the issue of Irish banknotes and coins. ... The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany is the central bank of the eurozone, in charge of monetary policy for the 12 countries that use the new euro currency. ... The euro symbol The euro (EUR or €) is the single currency for many countries within the European Union. ... Sandyford Industrial Estate is an industrial estate to the south of Dublin, Ireland in Sandyford. ... Dublins Hapenny Bridge. ...

Generally central banks in the Eurozone provide banknotes of one specific denomination each year, according to demand and a rotating allocation (determined by the ECB). Prior to the introduction of the euro in 2002, national banks produced several of the lower denominations to build up stockpiles. Since 2002 however, the Central Bank of Ireland has only printed €10 notes, as of 2005. Although notes produced in other Eurozone states circulate alongside domestically produced notes, the country of origin for any euro banknote can be identified by a one-letter prefix preceding the serial number. Banknotes produced in Ireland can be identified by the prefix "T". 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A further complication is that the actual printing of banknotes is not necessarily undertaken in the country in which banknotes are given a serial number and released. Some countries use private printers, but the Central Bank of Ireland is the sole printer for euro banknotes in Ireland. Any such notes will have the prefix "K" before the series code in a small star on the front of the banknote.

The Central Bank of Ireland does not currently introduce €200 and €500 notes into circulation, although these are legal tender in the country. If spent (by people coming from another Eurozone member state) they are unlikely to be passed to other consumers, and will find their way back to the banks (which usually only dispense notes up to €100).

References and further reading

"The Design of Irish Banknotes", Central Bank of Ireland, Dublin, 1997.