2016-11-05 Sat

Ireland issued a new coin celebrating the architect and designer Eileen Gray (1878–1976), who was considered to be a visionary artist. She lived most of her life in France and was a prominent figure from the Modernist art movement. She was known for a modernist villa designed and built from 1926 to 1929 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France. Her futuristic armchair was sold at an auction in 2009 for €22 million. Her designs not just looked beautiful, but were functional as well. In the 1970s, and her famous “Brick Screen” made a big comeback.

The obverse features the portrait of Gray with Brick Screen in the background with hand craftsmanship in lacquer and wood designed between 1922 and 1925. Other inscriptions include 10 EURO and EILEEN GRAY. The reverse depicts the Harp which is the national symbol of Ireland into the Europa common reverse design.

The mintage limit of the 10 €uro .925 silver 28.2 grams Proof coin is 6,000.