Ireland 1949 6 pence
This specimen was lot 73808 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "IRELAND. 6 Pence, 1949. London Mint. NGC MS-67. The finest certified example at NGC. This stunner is fully lustrous with an almost mother of pearl like appearance. Paired with a detailed strike, this piece is sure to excite spir[i]ted bidding." This issue is a product of the Royal Mint. 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. The sixpence was converted from nickel to copper-nickel in 1942.
Recorded mintage: 600,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 4.54 g, copper-nickel, 20.8 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-13a.
- 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 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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