1981 Irish £5 Coin
Ireland
1981
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$67.98
Based on Silver spot price ($80.83/oz) · 92.5% purity · 28.28g
Updated 6:57 AM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Ireland |
| Years Minted | 1981 |
| Composition | 0.925 silver |
| Weight | 28.28 g |
| Diameter | 38.61 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
The obverse features the Irish harp, the national emblem of Ireland.
Reverse
The reverse depicts a commemorative design for events in Ireland in 1981.
History & Notable Facts
This 1981 Irish £5 coin was struck to commemorate Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland, one of the few times the country issued a coin for a papal event.
Weighing 28.28 grams and composed of 0.925 fine silver, it features the Irish harp on the obverse and a design incorporating the papal tiara on the reverse. The Royal Mint in Llantrisant handled production, as Ireland lacked its own mint at the time. Mintage figures are uncertain; records from that era were poorly kept, with some lost in administrative reshuffles.
One oddity: the coin's edge inscription includes Gaelic text that translates to "God save Ireland," which might raise an eyebrow given the event's religious focus.
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