1797 Irish Halfpenny Token

In 1797, this Irish halfpenny token was struck to fill the gap left by Britain's stingy supply of copper coins, using dies cut in Birmingham and shipped across the Irish Sea.

That makes it a clever workaround for everyday transactions, not some grand statement of independence. The obverse typically shows a harp, while the reverse might depict a figure like Hibernia, though variations exist due to multiple issuers.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that era are as scarce as the coins themselves. If you're handling one, check for wear—most circulated heavily.

Planchets were likely sourced from recycled copper, possibly from old pots or foreign coins, but that's just an educated guess based on the period's practices.