Ireland 1971 penny

from the Stonecat Collection

This type was struck at the Royal Mint for Ireland 1971, 1974-82, 1985-88 as part of the decimal conversion. The first decimal coins (introduced in 1969) were the five pence (equaled the old shilling with the bull reverse) and the ten pence (equaled the old florin with the salmon reverse). The fifty pence was added in 1970, the half, one and two pence coins were added in 1971. The penny was converted into copper plated steel for 1988-2000, then demonetized in 2002, when Ireland joined the euro. The reverse depicts a bird from the Book of Kells.

Recorded mintage: 100,500,000 plus 50,000 proofs.

Specification: 3.56 g, bronze, 20.32 mm diameter, designed by Gabriel Hayes.

Catalog reference: KM 20.

Source:

• 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.

Link to:

• 1968 penny
• 1971 half penny
• 1971 2 pence
• 1974 penny
• Coins and currency dated 1971
• return to coins of Ireland