The designs were recommended by a committee chaired by W.B. Yeats, following an international design competition. Further details will be found in the publication, Coinage of Saorstát Éireann 1928, published by the Stationery Office, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.

The 1928 coinage comprised eight coins, viz, farthing, halfpenny, penny, threepence, six pence, shilling, two shilling and half-crown. The farthing and halfpenny were withdrawn in 1969 and the half-crown in 1970. On the changeover to a decimal systems in February 1971 the penny, three pence and sixpence were withdrawn. The current ½p, 1p and 2p coins were introduced and the shilling and two shilling coins became the 5p and 10p respectively. A 50p coin was also introduced in place of the ten shilling note. With regard to the provision of a new set of coinage——

The sooner the better.