ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Joseph Samuel Halfpenny · Public domain
1931 Irish Halfpenny
Ireland
1931
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$0.07
Based on Copper spot price ($6.06/oz) · 95.0% purity · 5.67g
Updated 6:04 AM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Ireland |
| Years Minted | 1931 |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 5.67 g |
| Diameter | 25.3 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features the Irish harp, the national emblem, with the inscription 'Saorstat Eireann' around it.
Reverse
Depicts a hen with chicks, designed by Percy Metcalfe.
History & Notable Facts
The 1931 Irish Halfpenny features a reverse design of a hen and chicks, a nod to everyday rural life in the newly independent state.
That image, by artist Percy Metcalfe, contrasts with the obverse's harp, a symbol borrowed from ancient Irish iconography. The coin was struck in bronze at the Royal Mint in London, since Ireland didn't have its own mint until later. Production numbers? They're murky; records from that era are spotty, possibly lost in bureaucratic shifts.
What makes it stand out is its role in the early Free State series, helping establish a distinct currency after centuries of British dominance. A dry observation: some collectors still mix it up with British pennies, which isn't entirely wrong given the shared mint.
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