The single currency has taken its first scalp with the demise of one of the most long-standing and well-used financial instruments - the humble postal order. Around since 1880, it survived the move to decimalisation. However, An Post has decided that the arrival of the euro heralds time for change.

The arrival of alternative methods of payment in recent times has led to a 60 per cent decline in demand for postal orders in the past decade, according to An Post.

The postal order, whose values were pre-printed, will be replaced along with the money order. They will both be replaced by a new postal money order (spot the difference), whose values will be inserted at the time of purchase.