Commemorative 2€ coin with U2 on it releases today

The Central Bank of Ireland launched a 2 euro coin with the members of U2 on the back today. This commemorates 50 years since the rock band's formation.

Bono, David Evans a.k.a. the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. met in secondary school and practised together for the first time on September 25, 1976. The members attended the coin launch event at the Little Museum of Dublin today. They also played a surprise gig at the school where they met, Mount Temple Comprehensive School.

U2 have won 22 Grammys, eight BRIT Awards, four Ivor Novello Awards and two Golden Globes. Their new album Carneval de Luz comes out this November, with single 'Silencio' out today.

They released their debut album Boy in 1980, and gained traction with War in 1983. It was their fifth album The Joshua Tree that truly made them an international, critical and commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. This album contained the smash hits 'With or Without You' and 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'.

Another collectors' coin, a 15 euro silver proof coin honouring Maeve Binchy, will be released on October 2. The author from Dublin wrote international best-sellers including Circle of Friends and Tara Road.

The U2 coin can be purchased here.