Decimal Day remain valid back to 1971, the only circulating coins valid on Decimal Day still to be valid. In 1982, the word "new" in "new penny" or "new pence" was removed from the inscriptions on coins, to be replaced by the number of pence in the denomination (i.e. "ten pence" or "fifty pence"). This coincided with the introduction of a new 20p coin, which, from the outset, simply bore the legend "twenty pence". A £1 coin was introduced in 1983, and a £2 coin in 1997. When the old pounds, shillings, and pence system was in operation, the United Kingdom and
Coins of the Republic of Ireland Coins of the Republic of Ireland There have been three sets of coins in Ireland since independence. In all three, the coin showed a Celtic harp on the obverse. The pre-decimal coins of the Irish pound had realistic animals on the reverse; the decimal coins retained some of these but featured ornamental birds on the lower denominations; and the euro coins used the common design of the euro currencies. The pre-decimal and original decimal coins were of the same dimensions as the same-denomination British coins, as the Irish pound was in currency union with the British pound sterling. British coins