Central Bank of Ireland launches gold and silver proof Daniel O’Connell commemorative coins

The Central Bank of Ireland has today (12 September 2025) launched silver and gold proof collector coins to commemorate 250 years since the birth of Daniel O’Connell, one of the greatest figures of Irish history.

The coins recognise Daniel O’Connell’s remarkable life and legacy, a legacy that continues to resonate in Ireland and across the world. Designed by Michael Guilfoyle, the coins feature a portrait of Daniel O’Connell with the inscription of ‘The Liberator’.

The coins will go on sale today at 12:30pm from www.collectorcoins.ie.

The silver proof coin has an issuance limit of 3,000 and retails at €65. It is struck in 28.28g sterling silver.  

The gold proof coin has an issuance limit of 750 and retails at €995. It is 1/4 troy ounce gold.

A double set – containing the two coins – has an issuance limit of 250 and retails at €1,095.

Launching the coins during a ceremony today in Derrynane House in Kerry – the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell – Governor Gabriel Makhlouf said:

“The coin that we are launching today tells a story of the power of peaceful, democratic action and the enduring struggle for social equality. Daniel O’Connell emerged as a transformative figure through his tireless campaigning for equality and fair representation. O’Connell understood that economic empowerment and political rights were deeply intertwined, and he dedicated his life to breaking down the barriers that held so many back.  It is fitting, therefore, that we honour his legacy today with this coin, a symbol of value, exchange, and progress.

“The economic outlook during O’Connell’s time was one of stark contrasts. While a small cohort of people enjoyed the privileges of land ownership and economic power, the majority of the population struggled. O’Connell understood that economic justice was inseparable from political rights. He believed that full participation in society – whether through voting, owning property, or earning a fair wage – was essential to achieving equality. He created one of the first mass democratic political movements that the world had ever seen and his efforts laid the groundwork for many of the social and economic reforms that would follow in the years after his death.

“Coins are not just instruments of commerce; they represent a shared social contract. The coins we use today are symbols not only of economic value but also of the shared values that unite us as a community. O’Connell understood the value of community and the importance of social equality, justice and peaceful reform, values which continue to resonate today.”   

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Proof coins are collectable coins and are not intended for general circulation. They are minted using specially polished dies and blanks that give them a mirror-like finish.

Every year the Central Bank issues a number of collector coin products, on behalf of the Minister for Finance. The Collector Coin Advisory Group advises the Bank in relation to coin themes. The Central Bank invites public submissions in relation to themes.

Pictures

Picture of the coin attached. Arthur Ellis Photography will syndicate pictures from the coin launch.

Further information

Martin Grant, [email protected], 086 078 7868