05 Oct Old Irish Coin Designs Explained
Old Irish coins are instantly recognisable by their animals: a hare, wolfhound, bull, salmon, horse and other designs that appeared in everyday change for generations. These details make each coin more than a date. They help identify the denomination and connect a year-specific gift with a distinctive piece of Irish design.
Ireland’s first Free State coin series was issued in 1928. A committee chaired by W. B. Yeats recommended native animals as the theme, and Percy Metcalfe won the design competition. The harp appeared on the other side of the coins, together with the name of the State and the year.
Read the full story of Ireland’s first coins and the 1928 coinage.
Which animal appeared on each old Irish coin?
The original pre-decimal series used eight different designs. Use this quick guide when identifying a coin:
| Coin | Design to look for |
|---|---|
| Farthing | Woodcock |
| Halfpenny | Sow and piglets |
| Penny | Hen and chicks |
| Threepence | Hare |
| Sixpence | Irish wolfhound |
| Shilling | Bull |
| Florin | Salmon |
| Half-crown | Irish hunter horse |
The animals were chosen as a unifying theme for a country whose economy was strongly connected with agriculture. Metcalfe’s designs gave each denomination a clear character without relying on a portrait or political figure.
The harp, inscription and year side
The harp was used on the obverse of the coins. The Central Bank describes it as Metcalfe’s adaptation of the Brian Ború Harp in Trinity College Dublin. Coins dated from 1928 to 1939 carry the words Saorstát Éireann; from 1939 the inscription changed to Éire, with small changes also made to the harp and some designs.
The date on this side is what makes an original coin especially personal. A coin from a birth year, wedding year or retirement year can connect the design with a specific family story.
What changed with decimal currency?
Ireland changed to decimal currency in 1971, but several familiar designs continued. The bull moved from the shilling to the 5p, the salmon from the florin to the 10p and the woodcock from the farthing to the 50p. New halfpenny, penny and twopence coins used ornamental bird designs by sculptor Gabriel Hayes. The later Irish pound coin, introduced in 1990, featured a red deer designed by Thomas Ryan.
From circulating coins to Irish keepsakes
The design and the year both matter when choosing an old Irish coin. A wolfhound sixpence looks very different from a salmon florin or horse half-crown, while the date links the piece to the person or occasion.
Irish Coin Cufflinks uses genuine old Irish coins to create handmade keepsakes in Dalkey, Co. Dublin. Explore the Irish heritage gifts collection or shop Irish coin cufflinks by year to find an original coin connected with a meaningful date.