1943 Irish Florin

The 1943 Irish Florin was struck from cupro-nickel, a hasty substitute for silver amid wartime supply disruptions.

That alloy choice reflected Ireland's neutral stance in World War II, forcing the mint to improvise with whatever metals weren't commandeered for the war effort. The obverse bore the Irish harp, a symbol dating back centuries, while the reverse featured a prancing horse—solid, unadorned designs that spoke to functionality over flair.

Production figures are murky; records from that era were spotty, likely lost to postwar disarray. If you're handling one, note the edge reeding, which was standard but often worn from circulation.

Collectors sometimes spin tales about hidden silver in these coins, but that's nonsense. They were pure emergency issue, plain and simple.