Europe's first euro coin forgery has been found in Ireland.
The counterfeit replica was described as "poor quality" by Superintendent John Farrelly, who added: "If you look at it for any more than three seconds you would detect it."
The bogus one euro coin was used at the weekend in a shop in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. Unlike the genuine article, it had no serrated edge.
Supt Farrelly said: "Significantly, the word ‘euro' appears on the one euro coin, and in this case, the ‘o’ was missing from it.
"It was also faded - as if the coin may have been in circulation for 30 or 40 years.
"It is the first in Europe and the message is that people should check all their notes and all their coins."
A number of newly-forged notes have also been uncovered in Ireland during the two weeks since the introduction of the common currency in 12 European Union states.
In the past few days, three false 50 euro notes were passed in pubs in the Dublin area, and one in Cellbridge, Co Kildare. All were of poor quality.
The superintendent said the bogus status of the notes was "very easily spotted".
But he added: "These opportunist criminals have a tendency to look for busy premises, where a lot of transactions are going on to pass the notes on.
"We are urging everyone to examine their money to make sure they are not caught. It only takes a few seconds."
PA