12 Assorted Irish Pre-decimal 1940s - 1960s Coins in a Velvet Money Bag!

Up to the time of decimalisation in 1971 there was a marvelous assortment of coins circulating in Ireland. It was a duodecimal system as in England, with 12 pennies to a shilling, and 20 shillings to a pound. Apart from the "English money" as we called it which dated back to Victorian times, we also had our own beautifully designed coins first issued in 1928. Although the 1/4d (farthing with the woodcock) had ceased circulating by the late 1950s, we still had the 1/2d (halfpenny with the sow and piglets), 1d (penny with the hen and chicks), 3d (threepence with the hare), 6d (sixpence or tanner with the wolfhound), 1/- (shilling or bob with the bull), 2/- (two shillings, two bob or florin with the Atlantic salmon) and 2/6 (two shillings and sixpence or half crown with the horse). (The letter "d" was used to denote pennies and this came from the Roman denarius coin!). All coins had a common obverse with the Irish harp, éire, and date. 

Talk to anyone who grew up in Ireland in the 1960s and the "old money" as it was called will feature strongly in their reminiscences. There were penny sweets, twopenny iced lollies, fourpenny choc ices, sixpenny bars of chocolate....and then the first time they got a present of a half crown - probably from a favourite uncle or as First Communion money! They were substantial coins with the solid bronze penny weighing 9.4 grams (1/3rd oz) - the same size as an American half dollar. With 12 pennies in your pocket you were literally weighed down with wealth, and had enough money to cover your bus fare to town and a ticket to the afternoon matinee in the local Savoy cinema! The "bob" was the name for a shilling (12 pennies) and although this was discontinued in 1971 - even today when somebody in Ireland is giving  a tip or donation (in Euros!), they will say "here is a couple of bob for you"! 

A "Penny for Luck" was a tradition in Ireland especially in rural areas. When a deal was struck and a price agreed, the custom was for the seller to give a "Penny for Luck" back to the buyer! Talk to any child of the '60s in Ireland and pennies featured large in everyday life. You could buy a penny toffee, be offered a "penny for your thoughts", be "in for a penny in for a pound", have to go and "spend a penny", have something explained until the "penny drops", something could cost "a pretty penny", be accused of being a "penny pincher", be "penny wise and pound foolish" or you could be told to "look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves"! 

This is an unusual opportunity to acquire a Black Velvet Money Bag of 12 of these magnificent old Irish coins. There are one each of the 2/- and 2/6, and two each of the 1/2d, 1d, 3d, 6d and 1/- (or shilling), so 12 coins in total. They are all in nicely circulated condition (Very Fine to Extra Fine) and the photograph is a fair representation of what the coins will look like. The dates will vary and are mainly from 1940s to 1960s with some from the 1930s or even 1928. If you have a special requirement for a specific date (say for a birthday) just email me, or add a message to your purchase and I should be able to include one or more coins of that date.

Remember that unlike today, Irish coins were not issued every year. So the shillings, florins, and half crowns were only issued in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 (2/- & 1/- only), 1966, 1967, then 1968 for the shilling and florin only, and 1969 for the 6d, decimal 5p and 10p. The sixpences and threepences were issued most years up to 1968. The halfpenny was issued only five times in the '50s and '60s viz. 1953, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967. The penny was issued in 1950 and 1952, none until 1962 and then every year through to 1968. I also have some dates from 1928, the 1930s and 1940s for the 6d, 3d, 1d and 1/2d only - so let me know if you want one or more of them in your selection.

They were withdrawn from circulation upon decimalisation in 1971 and are relatively scarce today over 50 years later. Mintages were also comparatively low - often less than a million. I have assembled a limited number of sets of these Irish coins, over the years, and when they are gone that's it! This is now your chance to acquire a fabulous memento of the Ireland of the 1960s! Now on offer on a Buy it Now price of $16.50 plus $6 Priority Airmail worldwide but buy 2 or 3 or more money bags of 12 coins - and only pay one postage charge. They make ideal and unusual gifts! Great also for birthdays, Christmas, St Patrick's Day on March 17th, wedding favors, coin collectors young or old, or for anyone with Irish connections!

This set is a marvelous complement to the velvet bag of 13 Irish 1970s decimal coins available for a Buy it Now price of $15.50. There is no extra postage charge if ordered together!!! Just see the gallery below and choose how many of each bag of Irish coins you can find an occasion for and order them now! Postage is combined automatically in the invoice.

I always combine shipping! Coins are shipped - securely packed in a padded envelope - within 48 hours of receipt of payment by Priority Airmail, and normally arrive in the US/Canada/Australia 6 to 10 days later, in Ireland in 1 day, the UK and rest of Europe in 4 to 5 days. I leave positive feedback immediately on Dispatch and I don't wait for yours first!

Check out my 6,800+ 100% positive feedback for yourself! Your satisfaction is guaranteed with my no quibble 30 day money back guarantee. Do also check out my other auctions for Irish coins and banknotes (there is no extra postage charge for additional items) by clicking on my "See other items" above! So place your order now! Thanks!