Figures of note?

Sir, – Recently, while changing some euro, it struck me how boring our paper currency has become. Other countries, outside the euro belt, have portraits of their national figures – artists, philosophers and the like.

Europe has almost limitless possibilities but has failed to use this resource.

There are figures who, in the past, succeeded in uniting Europe; Julius Caesar springs to mind, although admittedly more recent personalities may be contentious.

Of course, where the world of art is concerned we are spoilt for choice – Johannes Goethe, Émil Zola, Cervantes, our own James Joyce and WB Yeats. And then music – ah music – glorious Mozart, Bach, Bono, Édith Piaf, Richard Tauber – the list is almost too much.

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I haven’t even touched on the world of painting and sculpture.

Why has this opportunity been ignored? – Yours, etc,

DAVID J DOWSETT,

Dundrum,

Dublin 16.