ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Jerry "Woody" from Edmonton, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0
George III Penny
Ireland
1786–1797
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$0.24
Based on Copper spot price ($6.07/oz) · 95.0% purity · 18.9g
Updated 6:41 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Ireland |
| Years Minted | 1786–1797 |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 18.9 g |
| Diameter | 34 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Bust of King George III facing right.
Reverse
Harp with the date below.
History & Notable Facts
The George III Penny for Ireland, struck between 1786 and 1797, was produced at Matthew Boulton's Soho Mint in Birmingham, marking one of the first uses of steam-powered presses for Irish currency.
That innovation helped standardize the coin's weight and design, featuring the king's bust on the obverse and the Irish harp on the reverse. Copper issues were common, intended to circulate amid Ireland's chronic coin shortages, while silver proofs exist as rarities, though their exact purpose remains unclear.
Mintage figures are imprecise; records from the era often contradict each other, and some were likely destroyed in later upheavals. As for myths, I've heard plenty about these pennies being smuggled in whiskey barrels—most of it nonsense.
Proofs aside, the copper versions show wear from everyday use, a testament to their role in trade.
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