Self-representations of Ireland through Stamps and Coinage
Auto-représentations de l’Irlande à travers les timbres et la monnaie
Résumé
The representation of Ireland on stamps and coinage is the locus of the formulation by the government of national identity—a crucial stage in the development of a newly independent state. Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic trilogy—symbol, icon and index—enables one to better understand the intentions and the evolution informing the State’s self-representation. The stakes vary from one medium to another. Coins and notes are images of Ireland which circulate inside the country only and last longer, the government intervening only occasionally to change those images. It can be noted that these media, which are more apolitical and atemporal, retain a symbolic function longer. As for stamps, they are meant to represent Ireland inside the country as well as abroad. They are then particularly entitled to representing the events or characters which Ireland includes in the development of its identity as a young State. Thus, stamps display a general evolution from being symbols to being indexes as the government acknowledges as foundations of its identity no longer merely nationalism and religion, but also scientific development, sports and art. On the level of the form, this evolution is backed by a movement towards simplification and universal legibility.
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