George IV Irish Sixpence

The George IV Irish sixpence stands out for its harp reverse, a design element that harks back to medieval Irish coinage yet was struck in London, far from the Emerald Isle.

This silver piece, minted between 1822 and 1823, used standard Royal Mint silver alloys, likely including recycled metal from earlier issues, though exact sources remain murky. The obverse shows the king's laureate head, a common feature across his coins, but the harp on the back made it uniquely Irish—a subtle reminder of the Act of Union's complexities. Mintage figures? Lost in the 1838 fire at the Public Record Office, so we're left guessing.

These coins circulated widely in Ireland before the full adoption of sterling, often alongside British equivalents. Spotting a counterfeit is tricky; many fakes emerged later, preying on collectors' enthusiasm. As for myths, I've heard tales of hidden treasures in old Dublin pubs, but that's just romantic nonsense—most ended up in everyday pockets.

Over the years, I've examined dozens; they're sturdy little things, if a bit unassuming.