Bram Stoker’s ultra-iconic horror character, Dracula, is commemorated by the authors homeland

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Who doesn’t love Dracula? An absolute core mainstay of the movie, theatre, book and television worlds since its publication, Bram Stoker’s masterpiece is known by all. Just in time for Halloween it seems, the Central Bank of Ireland is releasing a proof silver coin in tribute to the author. Born in Ireland, Stoker began his career as a theatre critic, where he became friends with the actor, Sir Henry Irving. Becoming his personal assistant, he travelled the world, although in a weirdly ironic twist, never set foot in Eastern Europe. His masterwork, Dracula, was published in 1897 and is an example of an epistolary novel – one written as a collection of realistic but completely fictional diary entries, telegrams, letters, ship’s logs, and newspaper clippings.

The coin seems more about artist David Rooney’s interpretation of the book rather than a slavish nod to Stokers. You can see the comic influence from such works as Tales From the Crypt, with the classic bats, mountaintop castle, and Dracula with his fangs, long fingernails and Strictly Come Dancing outfit. Completely different from coin issues like the superb Numiartis issue, it’s an appealing piece for the classic crowd. Struck in a standard ounce of sterling silver, and with a 3,000 mintage, the coin comes boxed with a certificate of authenticity, and has a mintage of 3,000. Available now.

MINTS DESCRIPTION: Abraham Stoker was born in 1847 in Clontarf and studied at Trinity College, Dublin where he developed a love of theatre. For 27 years he was manager of Sir Henry Irving’s Lyceum Theatre in London. This limited edition coin was designed by David Rooney and is based on the artist’s life long fascination with the character. His earliest influences were American comics featuring vampires and eerie content in general and he is still influenced by the horror genre in literature and film.In the words of the designer, “The depiction of Dracula on the coin design echoes the early cinema depiction of Nosferatu and Hammer Horror cinema posters from the 1960s. I was eager to play with the scale of the figure looming behind the moonlit castle.”

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION €15 EURO
COMPOSITION 0.925 silver 28.28 grams
DIMENSIONS 38.61 mm
FINISH Proof
MINTAGE 3,000
BOX / COA Yes / Yes