1988 Dublin Millennium 50p

1988 Dublin Millennium commemorative 50-pence coin. This coin is in very good condition with lustre.

This specially designed 50p coin was issued in 1988 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of Dublin City by the Hiberno-Norse Vikings.

This is one of the few specially designed commemorative pre-Euro coins issued by the Central Bank of Ireland. It was struck at their mint in Sandyford, Dublin and the total mintage was about 5 million. Some 50,000 proof versions of the same coin were also struck. There were also the standard woodcock design 50p coins minted with the year 1988 and about 7 million of these were minted in addition to the Millennium coins.

The design of this coin is based on the municipal coat-of-arms of Dublin City and those of the Lord Mayor of Dublin. This reverse side was designed by Irish artist Thomas Ryan RHA (1929-2021), who also designed the three-colour 1988 Millennium logo.

The other side shows the standard design with the harp, EIRE and year.