Irish Coins & Banknotes,
An historical overview
Irish coinage can be traced back to the silver pennies of the Vikings in Dublin over one thousand years ago (known as Hiberno Norse issues)
Later we find the Norman (or Anglo-Irish) coinage of John (1199-1214)
Silver coins of Edward I (1272-1307) were struck by mints at Dublin, Waterford & Cork.
Irish hammered coins (as in England) were issued by monarchs such as Henry VII & Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, James I & Charles I (copper farthings)
Siege Money 1642 - 1649
During the great rebellion there was several emergency issues such as the 'Inchiquin Money which was struck in denominations of Threepence, Groat, Sixpence, Shilling , Halfcrown & Crown pieces.
'Ormonde' money:
Again the denominations are,
Threepence, Groat, Sixpence, Shilling , Halfcrown & large Crown pieces
Gunmoney (1689 -1691) This emergency
metals such as copper & brass (from cannon) hence
the name 'Gunmoney' Appart from its Historical
significance, this coinage is unique in that it bears both
the month of issue as well as the date.
Numerous varieties occour.
Bank of Ireland silver tokens (see image below) were struck between 1804 - 1813 including the overstriking of spanish pieces of eight (8R) as Bank of Ireland Six Shillings in 1804. There was a widespread issue of private tradesmen's halfpennies & farthings in the 18th & 19th centuries.
The last Irish coinage before independence was the Crowned Harp George IV copper pennies & halfpennies of 1822 - 1823.
A wide variety of often beautiful token coins were struck to supplement the scarce regal issues, especially halfpennies & farthings between the 17th & 19thC periods.
The Irish Free State Coinage from 1928
A new Irish coinage was introduced in 1928 following independence from Great Britain in 1921.
Although 'Irish' this new 'Saorstat Eireann' (Irish Free State) ' & Republic 'Eire' coinage was struck entirely by the Royal Mint.
This new coinage consisted of eight denominations from a silver halfcrown (2/6d or 30d) a silver florin (2 shillings 2/-) , a silver shilling (1/-) , a nickel sixpence & threepence. a bronze penny, halfpenny & farthing.
The designs reflected Ireland's agriculture based economy & depicted manily farm animals.
Initially from 1928 - 1937 (where issued) each denomination depicted an Irish harp obverse with the Gaelic legend 'Saorstat Eireann' or Irish Free State'
From 1939 until 1969 the legend simply read 'Eire'
This currency was replaced with decimal issues in the 1969-1971 period (with many precious designs continuing to be used) & a new irish mint was established to strike it.
The decimal coinage also bore the reverse 'Eire' & date surrounding the Irish harp. This has also been continued from 2002 on the EURO coinage of ireland.
