Ireland 1928 3 pence
This specimen was part of lot 40623 in Ponterio sale 168 (Philadelphia, August 2012), where it sold for $1,092.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "IRELAND. 8 Piece Proof Set, 1928. KM-PS1. All are encapsulated by PCGS Secure Holders and grade as follows: 1/2 Crown PROOF-64, Florin PROOF-64, Shilling PROOF-63, Sixpence PROOF-65, Threepence PROOF-65, Penny PROOF-64 RB, 1/2 Penny PROOF-64 RB, and Farthing PROOF-65 BN. A well matched, original proof set." After winning independence from Great Britain after World War One, Ireland went thru a civil war before settling on a free state completely separate from Britain. This issue of 1928 is the first coinage of the new country. Enough proof sets were issued in 1928 that the coin is not rare tho the other dates (1933-35) are scarce.
Recorded mintage: 1,500,000 plus 6,001 proofs.
Specification: 3.24 g, nickel, 17.6 mm diameter, designed by Percy Metcalfe.
Catalog reference: KM 4, KM PS1 for the set.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Man & Lundy), Pre-Decimal Issues, 2nd edition, London: Spink & Son, 2003.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 168: The Official ANA Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
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