1976 Irish 20 Pence

The 1976 Irish 20 pence was struck at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, since Ireland had no domestic minting capability at the time.

This cupro-nickel piece, part of Ireland's decimal currency overhaul, weighs about 11.5 grams and measures 27.5 millimeters across. The obverse features the traditional Irish harp, while the reverse displays the denomination encircled by the date. Production ran from 1976 through 1986, though exact numbers for that initial year are murky, possibly lost in routine record-keeping oversights.

It's a straightforward circulation coin, not one to spark heated debates among collectors. As for myths, let's just say not every Irish coin was blessed by leprechauns.