Ireland, Set of 4 1928 Irish Coins

In 1968 when the first decimal coins were issued they carried the denomination, ‘New Pence’ to differentiate them from the pre-decimal Pence or Penny coins. In 1982 the Mint felt that we had enough time to differentiate between the two Pence so they changed the denomination to Pence from New Pence. On most of the coins that was fine but there was one problem in the making. The Mint had decided that the lowly Half Pence was too low and value and would shortly stop making them. In fact in 1983 they did stop making them and in 1984 they only made the coins in the Mint and Proof Sets. So the 1982 Half Pence is the last coin that was actually struck for circulation. The Half Pence coin was only struck for three years and two of those coins are difficult to get and can be expensive. We bought an original bag of the 1982 Half Pence coins in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, it is scarcer than most people realise and priced rather reasonably. Get them while you can…

Citta del Vaticano, or Vatican City, issued its own coins up until 2002 when it adopted the Euro. These Aluminium 2 Lire coins (KM.50) were issued in the name of Pope Pius XII in 1958 and were the last of their type issued since he died in October 1958. The coins are low mintage with only 30,000 being struck. They have the crowned shield on the obverse and on the reverse the figure of Fortitude standing with a lion at his feet. Even better, they come in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and are now nearly 65 years old and rather difficult to find.

Most collectors don’t realise that the first Decimal Halfpenny (1971) were issued in rolls. They are shrink wrapped in plastic and there are 50 coins in each roll. We know, because we just bought an original bag of these coins all in original rolls! You have to remember that the Halfpenny was a very short lived coin. It was first issued in 1971 and the last coin was struck in 1984. Of course even more importantly the 1971 coins are denominated in ‘New Pence’ rather than as we do now, ‘Pence’. These Halfpence are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, just as they came out of the Royal Mint. Each roll holds 50 coins and is most unusual, as most coins don’t come out of the Royal Mint in rolls. It might be interesting to buy a couple to show to your friends or put away for your grandchildren.