St. Patrick Farthing

These farthings were struck using planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a no-nonsense way to address Ireland's chronic shortage of small change during James II's reign. That recycling wasn't some clever innovation; it was just practical economics in action, as the Irish economy limped along on whatever copper could be scavenged.

Minted in London between 1680 and 1684, these coins featured St. Patrick on the obverse, a first for Irish currency, though the design was more symbolic than sacred. We know James II pushed for this token coinage to stabilize trade, but exact mintage figures are murky—records from that period often went up in smoke, literally, during later fires.

The reverse showed a harp, Ireland's emblem, struck in copper that varied in quality. You'd think a saint on a coin would ward off counterfeits, but they circulated widely and wore down fast. As for myths about their divine protection, I've heard enough over the years.