Irish Coinage
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Detail Image

© 2002 - Copyright
John _ Stafford-Langan
Version 1.10
14th September, 2002

This coin is a proof Irish threepence - struck at the British Royal Mint in 1939.

With the exception of the 1928 proofs (of which 6,001 (+50) sets were made) and the proof 1966 10 shillings (of which 20,000 were made) Irish pre-decimal proofs are scarce.

Proofs dated 1939 exist for all denominations except for the penny which was not struck for circulation or in proof quality in 1939. The significance is that 1939 saw the introduction of the new 'Eire' (Ireland) legend replacing the 'Saorstat Eireann' (Irish Free State) legend.

It is important to distinguish between a proof striking and a high quality circulation strike - the frosted devices, mirror fields and the sharply defined edge are characteristics of the proof coins.

This example is in uncirculated proof condition - proof coins tend to be of little consequence if they have inadvertently slipped into circulation and been worn or damaged. In most cases an Irish proof coin of this series would become indistinguishable from a circulation striking after a very short time in circulation.

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