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A 2 euro commemorative coin of Ireland, issued in 2019 in a circulation of 1,000,000 copies. Dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
The center of the coin depicts the "Round Room" of the Mansion House in Dublin - the place of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann. Inside the composition are dots symbolizing the 73 members of Sinn Féin elected in the 1918 elections. In the center are the inscriptions "AN CHÉAD DÁIL" (The First Dáil) and "1919-2019". Around "ÉIRE". On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix. It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders. On the left is a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right is a map. On the outer ring are the 12 stars of the European Union. The band is finely fluted and has a national inscription.
Historical context
The first meeting of Dáil Éireann (An Chéad Dáil) took place on 21 January 1919 at 3:30 p.m. in the "Round Room" of Mansion House (the residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin). In the December 1918 parliamentary elections, the Sinn Féin party, advocating for Irish independence, won an overwhelming majority of seats (73 out of 105 Irish seats). Refusing to sit in the British Parliament, the 27 elected MPs (the rest were in prison or on the run) gathered in Dublin. They proclaimed the Declaration of Independence, elected a provisional government led by Cathal Bruha (later Éamon de Valera) and approved the "Democratic Programme" - a socio-economic programme. This act marked the beginning of the War of Independence (1919–1921). The First Dáil operated underground until 1921. Today, Dáil Éireann is the lower house of parliament (Oireachtas) of the Republic of Ireland, with 160 members (Teachtaí Dála). The 100th anniversary of the first meeting was celebrated in 2019 with a series of festive events.