1935 Irish Penny

The 1935 Irish penny was the first to feature the national harp without the British crown, a quiet nod to Ireland's hard-won independence.

This bronze coin, struck at the Royal Mint in London, carried a value of one penny in the Irish Free State's currency. Its obverse showed the harp, while the reverse depicted a mare and foal, designed by Percy Metcalfe. That's typical for the era's Irish coins, which aimed for simplicity after years of colonial designs. Mintage figures are murky; records from that period are incomplete, possibly lost in bureaucratic shifts.

Weighing about 9 grams and measuring 31 millimeters across, it shared traits with contemporary British pennies but with distinct Irish motifs. Circulation was widespread in the 1930s, though wear from daily use left many examples battered. If you're handling one, note the edge is plain—no reeding to speak of.

Some collectors fixate on minor die varieties, but most are mundane. That said, it's a solid piece for anyone building a set of early Irish issues.