The design on the reverse was of a red deer, by Irish artist Tom Ryan, based on photographs taken by Sean Ryan[1] of that species from the Irish national deer herd in Killarney National Park.

The design on the reverse was based on the "Broighter Boat" in the National Museum of Ireland.

Alan Ardiff and Garrett Stokes designed the coin.

During the early circulation of the coin, many payphones and vending machines which had been changed to accept the £1 coin also accepted the old penny, which was no longer legal tender and of little value to collectors.

Further, coins dated 1999 (produced by the Royal Mint of the United Kingdom and not the Central Bank of Ireland) were rejected by many vending machines (including parking meters in Dublin) as they were lighter than the standard coins, having been produced from a different alloy.