Irish farthing coin
Encyclopedia
The farthing was the lowest value coin of the pre-decimal Irish pound
, worth a quarter of a penny, 1/48 of a shilling or 1/960 of a pound. The coin had lost much of its value through inflation
long before decimalisation
in 1971, and during the 1960s no farthings were produced for general circulation; those minted in 1966 were produced for collectors' sets.
The coin measured 0.795 inches (20.2 mm) in diameter and weighed 2.83495 gram
s. The bronze
coin was made up of 95.5% copper
, 3% tin
and 1.5% zinc
. It was introduced in 1928 to replace the British farthing and ceased to be legal tender on 1 August 1969. As the Irish pound was pegged to the British pound
until 1979, the Irish farthing had the same dimensions and weight as the British version.
The reverse design featuring a woodcock
was by English artist Percy Metcalfe
. The obverse featured the Irish harp
. From 1928 to 1937 the date was split either side of the harp with the name saorstát éireann
circling around. From 1938 to 1966 the inscription changed to éire
on the left of the harp and the date on the right.
Ireland was one of only four nations (including Britain, South Africa
and Jamaica
) to issue farthing coins in the 20th century.
Irish farthings, like all non-current Irish coins, may be redeemed for euro at the Central Bank of Ireland in Dublin each weekday morning. Due to its slight value (about one six-hundredth of a euro), several must be redeemed to have any return at all.
Irish pound
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
, worth a quarter of a penny, 1/48 of a shilling or 1/960 of a pound. The coin had lost much of its value through inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
long before decimalisation
Decimalisation
Decimal currency is the term used to describe any currency that is based on one basic unit of currency and a sub-unit which is a power of 10, most commonly 100....
in 1971, and during the 1960s no farthings were produced for general circulation; those minted in 1966 were produced for collectors' sets.
The coin measured 0.795 inches (20.2 mm) in diameter and weighed 2.83495 gram
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
s. The bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
coin was made up of 95.5% copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, 3% tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
and 1.5% zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
. It was introduced in 1928 to replace the British farthing and ceased to be legal tender on 1 August 1969. As the Irish pound was pegged to the British pound
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
until 1979, the Irish farthing had the same dimensions and weight as the British version.
The reverse design featuring a woodcock
Woodcock
The woodcocks are a group of seven or eight very similar living species of wading birds in the genus Scolopax. Only two woodcocks are widespread, the others being localized island endemics. Most are found in the Northern Hemisphere but a few range into Wallacea...
was by English artist Percy Metcalfe
Percy Metcalfe
Percy Metcalfe, CVO, RDI , was an English artist sculptor and designer.He studied art in Leeds, and in 1914 attended the Royal College of Art London....
. The obverse featured the Irish harp
Clàrsach
Clàrsach or Cláirseach , is the generic Gaelic word for 'a harp', as derived from Middle Irish...
. From 1928 to 1937 the date was split either side of the harp with the name saorstát éireann
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
circling around. From 1938 to 1966 the inscription changed to éire
Éire
is the Irish name for the island of Ireland and the sovereign state of the same name.- Etymology :The modern Irish Éire evolved from the Old Irish word Ériu, which was the name of a Gaelic goddess. Ériu is generally believed to have been the matron goddess of Ireland, a goddess of sovereignty, or...
on the left of the harp and the date on the right.
Ireland was one of only four nations (including Britain, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
) to issue farthing coins in the 20th century.
Irish farthings, like all non-current Irish coins, may be redeemed for euro at the Central Bank of Ireland in Dublin each weekday morning. Due to its slight value (about one six-hundredth of a euro), several must be redeemed to have any return at all.