With the introduction of the euro just a month away, politicians and bankers gathered yesterday to bid farewell to the pound.
At a ceremony in Dublin, the last Irish bank notes ever printed were handed over to the National Museum.
The notes, presented by the Central Bank, form the centre-piece of a new exhibit, "Airgead - A Thousand Years of Irish Notes and Coins".
Opening the exhibit at Collins Barracks, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ms de Valera, said a nation's currency reflected its "ethos and artistic heritage".
"This exhibition gives visitors an unparalleled insight into how our notes and coins have changed to reflect the world around them," she said.
The chairman of the Central Bank, Mr Maurice O'Connell, said the State's currency was recognised internationally as a triumph of artistic flair.
Ms Barbara Nugent, chairwoman of the National Museum caretaker board said the exhibit provided a comprehensive account of the evolution of currency in Ireland.
The exhibit opens to the public today. Admission is free.