Ireland 1939 1/2 penny
The first specimen was lot 22848 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), where it sold for $161. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic 1/2 Penny 1939, choice UNC, seldom found in this state of preservation." The second specimen was part of lot 33249 in Heritage sale 3094 (Chicago, August 2021), which sold for $22,800. The catalog description[2] noted,
"Ireland: Republic 7-Piece Certified Proof Set 1939 PCGS,
1) Farthing - PR65 Red and Brown, KM 9, S-6645 2) 1/2 Penny - PR65 Red and Brown, KM 10, S-6644 3) 3 Pence - PR66, KM 12, S-6637 4) 6 Pence - PR65 Cameo, KM 13, S-6636 5) Shilling - PR65+ Cameo, KM 14, S-6635 6) Florin - PR66, KM 15, S-6634 7) 1/2 Crown - PR66, KM 16, S-6633
An exceptionally rare WW2-era Proof set, and undoubtedly the most challenging of the Irish series--neither Farouk nor Pittman containing a specimen, while sales records of the last two decades suggest that this is perhaps only the fourth to trade hands at public auction in that time. The history of Ireland during the period of the World Wars was especially tumultuous. After a 4-year war with Britain between 1919 and 1922, Ireland finally achieved its formal independence under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, though the Northern 6 Unionist counties ultimately rejoined the UK in 1937, and a prolonged trade war only came to conclusion the year these coins were minted. As such, the survival of any sets from the first year that the nation changed its name from the Irish Free State to Eire (the Irish Republic) is typically a far cry. In fact, while the Standard Catalog of World Coins lists Proofs for each denomination in the set, the set itself remains unlisted. What will be even more astonishing and immediately evident to series collectors, however, is that not a coin offered here is below gem certification. Nearly all, in fact, rank as the individual-finest certified at PCGS, with the exception only of the Halfcrown, which is bested only by virtue of a Cameo-graded PR66. Each of the silver coins contains a markedly clean appearance, with fine opalescent tones confined to the two bronze issues. Needless to say, a nearly one-of-a-kind opportunity for the connoisseur and Irish specialist alike, and perhaps the finest 1939 Proof set known."
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. The first coinage of the new country was in 1928; in 1939, the obverse legend was revised from "SAORSTAT EIREANN" to plain "EIRE", which title still obtains.
Recorded mintage: 240,000 plus proofs (a better date).
Specification: 5.67 g, bronze, 25.5 mm diameter, designed by Percy Metcalfe.
Catalog reference: KM 10, S-6644.
- 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]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.
- [2]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, ANA WFOM World & Ancient Coins Platinum Night Signature Auction #3094, featuring the Cape Coral Collection, the WTR Collection and the Monaco Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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