George II Irish Shilling

One of the more curious aspects of the George II Irish shilling is that it was often struck using silver recycled from foreign coins, like those Spanish reales that flooded into Britain during the era's trade wars.

This practice wasn't unique, but it gave these shillings a makeshift quality, as if the Royal Mint in Dublin was making do with whatever metal it could scrounge. The obverse shows George II's portrait, complete with the laurel wreath that made him look every bit the reluctant emperor, while the reverse features the Irish harp, a symbol as old as the hills. Mintage figures for specific years remain murky; records from that period were spotty at best.

We know production ran from 1741 to 1760, tapering off as George II's reign wound down, but exact numbers? Lost to time, probably in some bureaucratic mishap. If you handle one today, you'll notice the wear—most have seen better centuries.