These coins were produced to commemorate Irelands Presidency of the European Community in the first six months of 1990. The Presidency culminated in the meeting of the European Council in Dublin on 25-26th of June.

The 50 Ecu coin was the first Irish gold coin issued in over 340 years, the last ones being the extremely rare pistoles and double pistoles issued in 1649.

The coins are struck in 22 carat gold and weigh 15 grams each, they have a diameter of 28mm and a coarse milled edge. The Actual Gold Weight (AGW) is .4421 oz.

The obverse features a harp surounded by twelve stars which represent the member states of the EC.

The reverse features an Irish Red Deer, based on a design by Mr Thomas Ryan, President aof the Royal Hibernian Academy.

The 50 Ecu was issued in a plastic capsule, set in an official Central Bank green leatherette box with a cream lining, printed with a green harp surrounded by twelve stars, which represent the member states of the EC and included a certificate. This box is also easily identified as it has a gold trim around the opening.

Unfortunately, there was a problem with the box, over time the leatherette finish bonded with the cardboard sleeve which protected it and any attempt to remove it badly tore the surfaces of the box. As a result nearly 2,500 were sold only in their capsules and without certificates, 1,000 of these went to the US and many were slabbed.

According to sources in the Central Bank only 100 three piece sets were produced, so the 50 Ecus are available in approximately the following packaging combinations,

2,500+/- in original box with cert,

2,368+ in capsule only, and

100 in three piece sets

The Central Bank in 2006 had a small quantity of boxes made to re-house the coins in their own archive, they got 100 boxes for both the 50 Ecu and the Sets, as this was the minimum production quantity they could order. They released the surplus boxes to collectors who had the damaged boxes with the appropriate certificates.

Some of those sold in the capsules have been re-housed in different boxes and are not always explicitly sold as such, so you need to pay attention to what exacly you are getting,

N.B. As a result of the packaging problems mentioned above all the original boxed coins that I have on offer have torn surfaces to various degrees, check the extra images to get an idea of the problem.