Mr. Yeats and the Beastly Coins
In the wake of the Irish Civil War and the establishment of the new Irish Free State, this film documents the creation of a new coinage for Ireland in 1926. Poet, William Butler Yeats was already an internationally renowned figure when invited to chair the design committee for a set of coins which would proudly befit the new state. However, not everyone was impressed with the designs which featured a selection of Irish livestock, and much controversy was caused at home and abroad. Adding to this controversy, the coins, intended to distinguish Ireland as a sovereign nation independent from Britain, were created by an Englishman and produced in London. The film utilises animation, a mix of archival and modern footage, and photographs to tell this remarkable story. The inflammatory nature of the tale is animated by a wryly entertaining voiceover and by spirited music by the composer Hugh Rodgers. The 'beastly' coins were eventually held with great affection by Irish people and became a distinctive symbol of a newly independent Ireland. This film is part of F-Rated: Short Films by Irish Women.
