For the first time the Central Bank will honour an Irish woman with a commemorative coin today.
The 10 euro silver proof coin is being released to recognise the achievements of world renowned designer Eileen Gray.
Credited as being Ireland's most influential designer, Gray from Enniscorthy in County Wexford, died at the age of 98 in Paris in 1976.
Though born in Enniscorthy, Gray spent her childhood in South Kensington and was among the first women to be admitted to the Slade School of Fine Art.
Known for an array of designs which spawned the advent of modernist design and architecture, Gray was the subject of a recent RTE documentary, entitled Gray Matters.
Her famed dragon chair sold at auction in Paris for 19.5 million euro.
On its release, coin designer Sandra Deiana said she was immediately struck by the idea of designing a coin to pay tribute to a female artist who worked in a period "when it was still difficult to succeed in the world of work."
I wanted to emphasise Gray's great contribution to the International Style of 20th century Europe", said Deiana.
The coin, struck in 0.925 sterling silver, is limited to a run of 6,000 and is priced at €60.
A reproduction of Gray's screen, which features on the commemorative coin.
