Sir, – As one of those proposing the euro coin for inclusion among the 10 objects best symbolising 21st-century Ireland, I was pleased that Fintan O’Toole took up the challenge and added it to the list (Weekend Review, October 20th). His commentary on the subject, however, concentrated exclusively on the current euro-zone economic crisis and failed to look at the other side of the coin – literally.
The Irish harp on the reverse of our euro coin, uniquely among the boring male heads representing so many European countries (with apologies to Mozart and Austria), not to mention the aggressive German eagle, symbolises the values we place on music and song and their role in bringing people together. It is about history and continuity, just as much as about greed and mismanagement. On its travels across Europe in the pockets of our main trading partners, the Irish euro can bring a smile and a glimmer of hope for the future in these tough times. – Yours, etc,