1975 Irish 5 Pence
Ireland
1971–1988
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Market Price Range
Based on 10 eBay listings · Prices vary by grade and condition
Specifications
| Country | Ireland |
| Years Minted | 1971–1988 |
| Composition | Copper-Nickel |
| Weight | 2.5 g |
| Diameter | 19.4 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
The obverse features the Celtic harp, the national symbol of Ireland, with the inscription 'EIRE' and the date.
Reverse
The reverse depicts a snipe, a type of bird, along with the denomination.
History & Notable Facts
The 1975 Irish 5 pence was one of the first coins to fully implement Ireland's decimal currency system, introduced in 1971 to replace the old pounds, shillings, and pence. That transition meant everyday transactions suddenly made sense without mental arithmetic, at least in theory.
Struck at the Royal Mint in London—since Ireland lacked its own facility until 1978—the coin featured a simple cupro-nickel composition and a harp on the obverse, a symbol dating back to ancient Irish coinage. The reverse showed a simple numerical design, reflecting the era's push for modernity over ornamentation. Mintage figures for this specific year are unclear, possibly lost in administrative shifts.
While it's easy to romanticize these early decimal pieces, they were just practical tools for commerce. As for myths about hidden values, well, let's just say not every coin is a leprechaun's pot of gold.
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AI Analysis & Price Prediction
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