George I Irish Farthing

The George I Irish farthing was struck at the Tower Mint in London, then shipped to Ireland to address a severe shortage of small change.

This copper coin, minted between 1722 and 1724, features King George I's bust on the obverse and the Irish harp on the reverse, a design that underscored Britain's control over Irish currency. We know the planchets were made from high-purity copper, but exact sources remain unclear—perhaps recycled from older stock, though that's speculation. Mintage figures are lost to history, likely in the 1838 Public Record Office fire, so precise numbers are anyone's guess.

What we do have are well-preserved examples showing the wear of everyday use, from market stalls to pocket change. Some specimens turn up with counterfeits, a reminder that even in the 1720s, people found ways to stretch a farthing. Minting stopped abruptly in 1724, possibly due to economic shifts, though records don't say why.

It's a modest piece, really, but handling one after thirty years still surprises me.