The Central Bank has announced that two new coins honouring U2 and the late author Maeve Binchy will be launched this autumn as part of their commemorative coins programme.
The official €2 U2 coin, which will mark 50 years since the band’s formation in 1976, will be unveiled on 25 September.
The band were chosen for the special tribute as their “music and live shows have inspired generations around the world for decades”.
The Central Bank has also indicated that a €15 silver proof coin “celebrating the life and legacy of beloved author Maeve Binchy, whose warm, unforgettable stories continue to captivate readers across the globe” will be launched on 2 October.
The best-selling author died in July 2012 at the age of 72. At the time of her death the native of Dalkey in Co Dublin had sold about 40 million books in 37 languages.
Previous artists who have been commemorated on Irish coins include Luke Kelly, Phil Lynott, Sean O’Casey and Bram Stoker.
The Central Bank occasionally releases coins to mark special events.
Last month the bank launched a €2 commemorative coin to mark the beginning of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Central Bank minted 500,000 of the special €2 coin.
The coin design features the official presidency logo, symbolising “growth, dynamism and movement”. Each individual arm of the spiral features 27 discs to symbolise the 27 Member States of the EU, with the resulting white space at the centre forming a five-point star, a symbol from the EU flag.