Currency Centre
Encyclopedia
The Currency Centre is the mint
of coin
s and printer
of banknote
s for the Central Bank of Ireland, including the euro
currency. The centre is located at Sandyford
, Dublin, Ireland
. The centre does not print the complete range of euro banknotes. Other denominations are imported.
The centre was designed by the architect
Sam Stephenson
, for which he won the RIAI Triennial Gold Medal
in 1977-1979 and opened for business in 1978. Before the centre was established Irish coins
were produced in the Royal Mint
.
The first euro coins were minted in the centre in September 1999, whilst the first banknotes were printed in April 2000; these commenced delivery to banks and retailers in September (coins) and October (banknotes) of 2001. The final Irish coins, based on the Irish pound
, were minted in September 2000 and the final banknotes were printed in April 2001.
In recent years a number of rumors have surfaced regarding the renewed printing of Irish Punt currency, as the Irish and Eurozone economic crisis has spread.
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
of coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
s and printer
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
of banknote
Banknote
A banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...
s for the Central Bank of Ireland, including the euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
currency. The centre is located at Sandyford
Sandyford
Sandyford is a suburb of Dublin, located in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland. A major part of Sandyford today is composed of the Sandyford Industrial Estate and related developments.- Location and access :...
, Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The centre does not print the complete range of euro banknotes. Other denominations are imported.
The centre was designed by the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Sam Stephenson
Sam Stephenson
Sam Stephenson was an Irish architect. Many of his buildings generated considerable controversy when they were built.-Family:...
, for which he won the RIAI Triennial Gold Medal
RIAI Triennial Gold Medal
The RIAI Triennial Gold Medal has been awarded since 1934 to the best building completed in the preceding three years by a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.- Recipients :...
in 1977-1979 and opened for business in 1978. Before the centre was established Irish coins
Coins of the Republic of Ireland
The Irish Free State decided soon after its foundation in the 1920s to design its own coins and banknotes. It was decided that the Irish currency would be pegged to the pound sterling...
were produced in the Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
.
The first euro coins were minted in the centre in September 1999, whilst the first banknotes were printed in April 2000; these commenced delivery to banks and retailers in September (coins) and October (banknotes) of 2001. The final Irish coins, based on the Irish pound
Irish pound
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
, were minted in September 2000 and the final banknotes were printed in April 2001.
In recent years a number of rumors have surfaced regarding the renewed printing of Irish Punt currency, as the Irish and Eurozone economic crisis has spread.