Deadline Reminder | Silver Proof Coin Design Competition 2026 from Central Bank of Ireland
Silver Proof Coin Design Competition 2026
Seán O’Casey and Maeve Binchy
In 2026, Central Bank of Ireland will issue two silver proof commemorative coins to pay tribute to two significant figures in Irish literature. The first coin will commemorate Irish playwright Sean O’Casey. 2026 marks 100 years since the first performance of the Plough and the Stars in the Abbey Theatre. The second silver proof coin will pay tribute to esteemed Irish author and columnist Maeve Binchy.
Artists and designers are invited to participate in separate competitions to select a design for each of these coins.
Preliminary Stage
Interested parties are requested to submit a curriculum vitae and samples/evidence of previous medallic works (such as coinage) and or relief sculptures for consideration. Both electronic and hard copy submissions are required. Submissions should clearly indicate which design competition (or both) they wish to participate in and should be sent by email to coindesign@centralbank.ie and by post to the below address, to arrive no later than 15 August 2025.
Shortlisting Stage
Candidates will then be shortlisted based on their submissions by an independent panel of experts. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in the design competition and will receive a design brief including technical specifications for each coin theme for which they have expressed an interest.
Shortlisted candidates for each coin design theme will receive a design fee (€2,000), subject to compliance with the design brief provided. The winning candidate for each design theme will receive a further payment (€6,000) in respect of their design.
Designer’s email addresses will be retained for the purposes of informing designers about future competitions. At the beginning of your submission, please clearly indicate that you agree to your email address being used for this purpose. If this confirmation is not received, you will not receive any future coin design competition notifications.
2026 Coin Design Competitions
Collector Coin Area
Central Bank of Ireland
PO Box 61
Sandyford Road
Dublin 16
Ireland
D16 K280
Note in relation to Personal Data;
Personal data collected by the Central Bank of Ireland as part of the design competition is required for the purpose of short-listing and final design selection. The information provided will be shared with the Coin Design Panel for the purpose of selection. Data is not being retained for any longer than when the design is awarded other than email addresses which will be retained for the purposes of informing designers about future competitions. This will only happen where designers actively agree clearly in their submission to their email address being used for this purpose.
The protection of personal data is a priority for the Central Bank of Ireland and your data will be processed in line with our Privacy Policy, https://www.centralbank.ie/fns/privacy-statement.
For more information and to apply email coindesign@centralbank.ie