1946 Irish Halfpenny

The 1946 Irish halfpenny was the last bronze coin of its denomination, quietly ending a series that had served everyday transactions since 1928.

That makes it a neat capstone to Ireland's pre-decimal era, though not many noticed at the time. The obverse shows the familiar Irish harp, while the reverse features a hen with her chicks—a design unchanged from earlier issues. It was struck at the Royal Mint in London, as Ireland lacked its own facility until later.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that period aren't always reliable, and I've seen estimates vary wildly based on incomplete archives. Weighing in at about 5.6 grams of bronze, it's a modest piece that circulated widely before vanishing from pockets.

Some collectors debate its scarcity, but in truth, it's neither rare nor revolutionary. As for myths, I've heard tales of hidden silver in wartime coins, but that's nonsense—this one is pure bronze, plain and simple.