Henry VI Irish Halfgroat

This Irish halfgroat from Henry VI's reign bears the king's bust on the obverse, a design that awkwardly blends English authority with Irish motifs like the harp on the reverse.

That harp wasn't just decoration. It signaled an attempt to assert control over Ireland during a period of rebellion and weak governance, a coin essentially saying, "We're still in charge here," even as the Wars of the Roses raged elsewhere.

Mintage figures are murky; records from that era often went up in smoke, literally, during later conflicts. We know these were struck in silver, likely in Dublin, on planchets that might have been sourced from recycled continental coins, but specifics elude us.

Irish halfgroats like this one turn up rarely, their survival a testament to burial hoards or accidental preservation. Purists note the variable quality, with some strikes looking as worn as I feel after decades of handling them.