Coin
½ Penny - George II Counterfeit of Irish issue (1781) — Ireland
Ireland • 1781
Overview
A copper contemporary counterfeit ½ Penny coin of Ireland, bearing the date 1781. The obverse features a laureate bust of King George II, while the reverse depicts a crowned harp with a woman's body. Struck at the Hanover mint in Germany.
Specifications
- Country
- Ireland
- Year
- 1781
- Composition
- Copper
- Weight
- 7.12 g
- Diameter
- 28 mm
- Mint
- Hanover, Germany
- Shape
- Round (irregular)
- Issuer
- Ireland
Design details
Obverse
Laureate bust of King George II facing left. Script: Latin Lettering: GEORGIVS · II · REX · Translation: King George the Second.
Reverse
Coat of arms of Ireland, crowned harp with woman's body and breast. Script: Latin Lettering: HIBERNIA · 1781 Translation: Ireland.
Collector insights
- Series context: Part of the Contemporary counterfeits series — collectors typically assemble full-year date runs, so single years within an established series carry demand beyond raw mintage.
- Struck at: Hanover, Germany. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
Related pieces
Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view Ireland in the country guide.