| Description : The Easter Rising of 1916 (Irish: Éirí Amach na
Cásca) was an attempt by militant Irish republicans to force Ireland's independence from the United Kingdom.
Although militarily unsuccessful, it is considered a turning point in Ireland's history, which ‐ after the War of
Independence 1919‐1921 ‐ ultimately led to independence. The first national Irish 2‐euro commemorative coin,
designed by Emmet Mullins shows the portico of Dublin's main post office, completed in 1818, with the statue of
Hibernia, an Irish symbol, above it sculpted by John Smyth (∼1773‐1840). The capture of the Post Office in
1916 triggered the Easter Rising. The name of the statue is derived from the ancient Greek name for the island, is considered
a witness to the events of 1916 as well as a symbol of the country's development based on the ideals of Patrick Pearse's
Proclamation for the next hundred years. Its gaze is directed towards the future; it is also a symbol of the country's past,
present and future. At the top of the coin is the word "HIBERNIA", in majuscules script similar to that in the historic Book
of Kells. The sun's rays symbolise the Revolt and the Proclamation, which mark the beginning of the development of a new
nation and republic. Either side of the statue are the years "1916" and "2016", at the bottom of the coin is the name of the
issuing country "ÉIRE" (Ireland) and below it the year of issue "2016". The coin was minted without mint marks by the
Irish mint Lárionad Airgeadra an Bhainc Ceannais / Central Bank Currency Centre in Áth an Ghainimh
/ Sandyford. Coins minted in the proof production process were made by the Austrian mint Münze
Österreich AG in Vienna. |
