The Central Bank is issuing gold and silver proof coins to mark the centenary of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic on April 24th, 1916.

The coins, designed by Michael Guilfoyle, depict the statue of Hibernia in front of key words and phrases from the Proclamation. Director of currency and facilities management Paul Molumby said: “The design reflects back to the GPO and its association with the Easter Rising and the reading of the Proclamation, which was read by Patrick Pearse outside the GPO in 1916.”

The coins are available to buy from this morning.

A proof coin is one struck using a special, high-quality minting process which is made especially for collectors. It comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity testifying to the issue limit.