ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · There is no person credited for images contained the the work. The introduction thanks the Clarendon Press for the production of these en:collotypes · Public domain
1931 Irish Penny
Ireland
1931
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Market Price Range
Based on 20 eBay listings · Prices vary by grade and condition
Estimated Melt Value
$0.11
Based on Copper spot price ($6.09/oz) · 95.0% purity · 9g
Updated 11:08 AM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Ireland |
| Years Minted | 1931 |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 30.8 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
The obverse features the Irish harp, a national symbol, with the date 1931 below it.
Reverse
The reverse depicts a hen with chicks, representing Irish agriculture.
History & Notable Facts
The 1931 Irish Penny was one of the first coins to feature the Irish harp without the British crown, signaling the Free State's subtle assertion of independence.
Struck in bronze at the Royal Mint in London—since Ireland lacked its own facility at the time—it weighs about 9 grams and measures 30.8 millimeters across. The obverse displays the harp with "Saorstat Eireann" inscribed, while the reverse shows a hen and chicks, designed by Percy Metcalfe to evoke rural life. Mintage figures are murky; records from that era are incomplete, possibly lost in later administrative shifts.
Variations in die strikes can make some examples slightly off-center, a minor flaw that amuses the seasoned collector. Not every coin needs to be a masterpiece.
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