George I Irish Penny

The 1723 Irish Penny under George I was struck amid a fierce public backlash, thanks to William Wood's patent that critics deemed a swindle.

These copper coins, intended for everyday use in Ireland, were actually minted in England, likely at the Bristol or London facilities, using metal that often proved brittle and inconsistent. That made them prone to wear, even before they entered circulation. Wood's operation produced pennies weighing about 10 grams, with George I's portrait on the obverse and the crowned harp on the reverse—a design meant to symbolize unity, but which instead fueled resentment.

Mintage figures are murky; records from that era were probably lost in later upheavals, like the 1838 fire at the Public Record Office. What we do know is that few survived in good condition, given the coin's short lifespan and the Irish preference for boycotting them.

Many specimens today show signs of hasty striking, with off-center designs that might amuse the patient collector.