Two-euro coin marks 50 years of rock band U2
The Central Bank of Ireland has launched a commemorative two-euro coin marking the 50th anniversary of rock band U2. Deputy Governor Vasileios Madouros unveiled the coin on September 25, 2026, alongside band member Larry Mullen Jr.
From school notice board to currency
The new two-euro commemorative coin features an image of band members Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr.
, designed by Shaughn McGrath.
Formed in Dublin in 1976 after Mullen posted a note seeking musicians at Mount Temple Comprehensive School, U2 has released 15 studio albums, sold over 175 million records globally, and won 22 Grammy Awards.
Deputy Governor Vasileios Madouros presented the piece at the Little Museum of Dublin, stating that “commemorative coins tell the stories of the people and moments that have shaped our nation and inspired the world.”
The coin is legal tender across Europe.
Two collector editions on sale
Available from September 25, 2026, through collectorcoins.ie, the issue includes 150,000 brilliant uncirculated coin cards retailing at €14.95 alongside 5,000 silver proof booklets priced at €39.95. Proof coins feature mirror-finish backgrounds with frosted relief, struck individually with polished dies.
The Central Bank of Ireland releases collector coin products annually on behalf of the Minister for Finance, guided by recommendations from the Collector Coin Advisory Group.
Nostalgia on legal tender
Issuing rock merchandise as official currency leans heavily into public relations rather than central banking substance.
While commemorative mintings generate welcome non-tax revenue from collectors, they remain a trivial operational footnote.
For European monetary policy, the initiative is completely inconsequential beyond its cultural appeal.