1937 Irish Penny
Ireland
1928–1968
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Market Price Range
Based on 20 eBay listings · Prices vary by grade and condition
Specifications
| Country | Ireland |
| Years Minted | 1928–1968 |
| Composition | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| Weight | 9 g |
| Diameter | 31 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
The obverse features the Irish harp with the inscription 'Saorstat Eireann'.
Reverse
The reverse depicts a hen with chicks.
History & Notable Facts
The 1937 Irish Penny introduced a simplified harp design on its reverse, ditching the ornate flourishes of earlier versions for a cleaner look that reflected the new Irish state's identity.
This coin was struck in bronze at the Royal Mint in London, as Ireland lacked its own facility at the time. The obverse featured a portrait of Lady Hazel Lavery, adapted from earlier Irish notes, her image a subtle nod to the nation's artistic heritage. Mintage figures are documented as around 4 million, though records from that era can be patchy.
One curiosity: the harp's strings, rendered in a more abstract style, might make you wonder if the designer was economizing on detail or just tired of harps altogether.
Production ceased after this year as the penny denomination evolved, but that's another story.
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