Elizabeth I Irish Sixpence

These Irish sixpences from Elizabeth I's reign were struck using silver likely recycled from melted foreign coins, a no-nonsense way to bolster the Irish economy amid scarce resources.

That practical approach meant planchets often varied in quality, leading to coins that were inconsistently sized or weighted. The obverse typically showed the queen's bust, while the reverse featured a harp—Ireland's ancient symbol—surrounded by the inscription in Latin. We know the minting happened at the Tower of London, but records for exact outputs are spotty; much was lost in various archival fires over the centuries.

As for circulation, these pieces saw heavy use in daily trade, which explains their frequent wear. I've seen plenty turn up in hoards, testament to their role in a restless era. Mintage figures? Hard to pin down precisely.

One oddity: the harp's strings were sometimes faint, making it look like the coin forgot how to play.