Ireland 1949 3 pence
This specimen was lot 75237 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2024), where it sold for $45. The catalog description[1] noted, "IRELAND. 3 Pence, 1949. London Mint. PCGS MS-65. A boldly struck and satiny Gem." 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. Unlike the larger shilling, florin and half crown, this denomination was never struck in silver. The threepence was converted from nickel to copper-nickel in 1942.
Recorded mintage: 1,200,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 3.24 g, copper-nickel, 18 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: S-6642; KM-12a.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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