Edward IV Irish Penny

Edward IV's Irish penny bears the Irish harp on its reverse, a deliberate echo of his English groats adapted for Irish circulation during the Wars of the Roses.

That harp wasn't just decorative. It asserted Yorkist control over Ireland, where the coin was struck in places like Dublin or Waterford from silver that might have been local or imported. The design is simple: the king's bust on the obverse, often crude by modern standards, reflecting the era's minting techniques.

We don't know the exact mintage; records from that time are scarce, lost to history's fires and forgetfulness. What we do have are survivors, typically weighing around 0.9 grams, showing wear from everyday use in a turbulent period.

Planchets were sometimes irregular, a reminder that perfection wasn't a priority in 15th-century Ireland.

These coins have fooled more than a few modern enthusiasts mistaking them for English issues.