Charles II Irish Halfcrown

The Charles II Irish halfcrown was typically struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a thrifty reuse of foreign silver amid Ireland's coin shortages.

This silver piece, minted between 1680 and 1684, shows the king's draped bust on the obverse, facing right, and a crowned harp on the reverse, symbolizing Ireland's ties to the English crown. The edges bear a simple milled design, likely to deter clipping. Variations exist in die states, with some strikes appearing crude due to the era's rudimentary minting techniques.

Mintage records for these years are unreliable; many documents burned in the 1922 Four Courts fire in Dublin. As for survival rates, they're higher than you'd expect for a coin that circulated through wars and economic woes.

Experts sometimes quip that these halfcrowns, with their worn edges, have seen more adventures than their English counterparts.