Ireland 1/2 Crown 1928-1937

History

Obverse. Photo © Heritage Auctions

Description

The half crown (2s 6d) (Irish: leath choróin) coin was a subdivision of the pre-decimal Irish pound, worth 1⁄8 of a pound.

The original minting of the coin from 1928 to 1943 contained 75% silver, a higher content than the equivalent British coin. The silver coins were quite distinguishable as they had a whiter appearance than the later cupronickel variety minted from 1951. The silver coins wore less well. The subsequent cupronickel coin was 75% copper and 25% nickel. The last half crowns were produced in 1967 and it was withdrawn on 1 January 1970.

The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann; 6 December 1922 – 29 December 1937) was a state established in 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. That treaty ended the three-year Irish War of Independence between the forces of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and British Crown forces. The Free State came to an end with the coming into force of a new constitution on 29 December 1937 when the state took the name "Ireland".

Engraver: Percy Metcalfe

Obverse	Music (instrument, notes etc.) Harp Depicts the Irish harp dividing date. Country name (Irish Free State) in Irish circling around. The Celtic harp is a triangular harp traditional to Brittany, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In Ireland and Scotland it was a wire-strung instrument requiring great skill and long practice to play, and was associated with the Gaelic ruling class. In the Republic of Ireland, it appears on the coins and coat of arms. SAORSTÁT ÉIREANN 19 33
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Horse Depicts an Irish Hunter, a breed of horse, surrounded by value in Irish. Engraver's initials below. The half crown was commonly called "two and six" due to its value of two shillings and sixpence (indicated on the coin itself as '2s 6d'). This design was used later for the twenty pence coin issued in 1986. LEAT CORÓIN 2S 6D PM
Edge	Reeded (milled)