Ireland 1939 3 pence
This specimen was lot 25266 in Heritage sale 3032 (Chicago, April 2014), where it sold for $1,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic Proof Threepence 1939, PR66 NGC. A pristine example with essentially flawless fields and a bold strike. Scarce in Proof, rare in PR66 grade. Few auction records of this type are available. In any case, a special offering." 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: 64,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 3.24 g, nickel, 17.6 mm diameter, designed by Percy Metcalfe.
Catalog reference: KM 12.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3032, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
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