#submarine – The Central Bank of Ireland launched today a €15 limited edition Silver Proof collector coin to commemorate John Philip Holland [1841 - 1914], the Irish born inventor of the modern submarine.
Speaking at the launch at the Marine Institute, Oranmore, Galway, Central Bank Director of Currency and Facilities Management, Paul Molumby said: "This is the first in a new series that the Central Bank will issue to honour Ireland's impressive scientific and technological tradition. John Philip Holland's life and achievements were extraordinary. He played a significant role in the development of submarine navigation and following his emigration to the USA, he designed the first working submarine."
Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute said: "We're delighted to host the launch of the Central Bank's commemorative coin here today to honour John Philip Holland, the Irish born inventor of modern submarine. As a nation we have a strong tradition of innovation and we at the Marine Institute are very proud to maintain that link with the history of marine technology - we named our remote operated vehicle (ROV) after John Philip Holland the Irish born inventor of modern submarine.
With the ROV Holland I, we honour his legacy through important recent scientific discoveries such as the surveys of mid-Atlantic volcanic vent fields and the unique new animal communities on the deep canyons on our continental slope, as well as working on crucial fisheries, environmental and climate changes missions and assisting in the development of new marine sensor technologies.
This event would have also been well received by the late Commander Bill King who lived in Oranmore, Galway. Commander King had commanded the submarine Snapper during World War II, in which he won the DSO and DSC while patrolling the coast of Norway. In his later years he frequently addressed meetings urging people to seek adventure in their lives, particularly having joined the Royal Navy at a young age of 13.
The coin features a representative image of the inventor's hand poised to place the final stroke of a technical drawing of the USS Holland, complete with a decorative nautilus spiral with the obverse bearing the traditional representation of the Irish harp. The coin, which was designed by Mary Gregoriy, is part of the Irish Science and Inventions coin series, and has an issue limit of 10,000 units.
The Holland coin will be available to the public from Tuesday 2nd September 2014. Coins can be purchased by downloading an order form from www.centralbank.ie, by phoning 1890 307 607 or directly from the Central Bank on Dame Street in Dublin at a cost of €44.
