Irish people have been slower than others to let go of the old currency.Almost two years since we bade farewell to Irish punts and coins, about 100 people a day are still calling to the Central Bank in Dublin, laden down with bags of coppers and silver.
The euro was introduced on January 1st, 2002 and the punt ceased to be legal tender in February, 2002 but the Central Bank will indefinitely convert the old currency into euros.
The bank tellers convert between £2,000 and £3,000 a day into euros.
There is no minimum amount for conversion, but there are restrictions on the maximum amounts that can be exchanged over the counter.
Customers are limited to £3,000 in notes or £500 in coins per transaction.
Prior notice must be given for sums greater than this.
Cheques are then issued by post, after certain identity checks are made to avoid facilitating money laundering.
The Central Bank estimates that there is still about £320 (€406) million in circulation in this State.
"With figures like that, we expect people will be coming in to the Central Bank for some time," said a spokeswoman for the bank.
"At the height of the queues, there were up to 200 people a day calling to change money. But there is still a steady flow of customers."
Customers have come from all over the country to exchange money. One customer was delighted to discover £330 in an old handbag.
She said she hadn't decided what she would spend it on yet. "It's a nice windfall for Christmas," she said. "Perhaps I'll buy something nice for my family."
Another had saved £79 in coppers in a large glass bottle but had mislaid it for a year.
She had resigned herself to keeping it as a souvenir as she thought it was too late to convert the money.
Members of the public can exchange money between 10 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Three months after the euro was introduced, more than 90 per cent of the value of Irish notes, and 60 per cent of the value of coins had been returned to the Central Bank.
The Euro Changeover Board, which oversaw the introduction of the euro, closed its office on May 10th, 2002.
For those who want to check how much their jar of coppers is worth, the Euro Changeover Board website is still active and carries a euro calculator.
The website address is: www.irlgov.ie/ecbi-euro/
