More than €1.2 million in old Irish punts have been exchanged at the Central Bank over the past two years as people continue uncovering forgotten notes and coins decades after the euro replaced the national currency.
Figures released under Freedom of Information show that from 2024 to 2025, one person exchanged £36,866 (€46,810), while another swapped £30,360. Four other individuals traded in over £20,000 worth of punts. In total, 14 transactions exceeded £10,000, each resulting in a euro payout of at least €12,700.
The Central Bank said tightened checks are now in place for transactions above IR£750 to ensure the source of funds and proof of ownership. “We know that people find old Irish banknotes and coins all the time, so the exchange of old money is an important service we provide to the public,” a spokesman said. He added that the increased checks help verify larger transactions.
Data shows that the volume of exchanges rose in 2025 rather than falling. Last year, approximately €665,000 worth of punts were exchanged, compared to €572,000 in 2024, marking an increase of about 16 percent. The majority of the exchanges were in banknotes, with €554,950 swapped in notes and €110,397 in coins. In 2024, €429,421 was exchanged in banknotes and €142,834 in coins.
Many of the exchanges involve cash discovered in attics, safes, the homes of deceased relatives, or old business holdings. The Central Bank confirmed that transactions are only refused in limited circumstances, including cases of intentionally damaged notes, suspected criminal activity, counterfeiting, or if someone submits less than half a note without evidence that the remainder has been destroyed.
The service also accommodates damaged notes, and the Central Bank said it has no plans to discontinue exchanges, despite the euro being in circulation for nearly 25 years. “We have a standard procedure in place to assist people, and we also have increased checks for exchanges above £750 to ensure source of funds and proof of ownership,” the spokesman added.
The ongoing popularity of the exchange service highlights both the continued public interest in Ireland’s pre-euro currency and the number of notes and coins still tucked away in homes across the country. For many, it offers a chance to recover sums that might have been forgotten for decades.
