Coin
½ Reul = 3 Pence (1928) — Ireland
Ireland • 1928 • KM# 4, Sp# 6629
Overview
Irish Free State 3 Pence coin from 1928.
Specifications
- Country
- Ireland
- Year
- 1928
- Composition
- Nickel
- Weight
- 3.24 g
- Diameter
- 17.5 mm
- Thickness
- 1.72 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM# 4, Sp# 6629
- Issuer
- Ireland
Design details
Obverse
The date was split either side of the harp with the name Saorstát Éireann circling around.
Reverse
Seated hare, facing left with the words leat & reul 3d
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Percy Metcalfe is credited as the designer for the Irish Free State 1928-1937 series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Mintage vs. survival: A moderate mintage of 1,500,000. Grade rarity is usually the driver of value here — mid-grade circulated pieces are common, but original-surface uncirculated coins can command a strong premium.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM# 4, Sp# 6629. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
The 1928 issue marks the first year of the Irish Free State's new currency system following the Coinage Act of 1926. This introduction signaled a symbolic break from the British sterling coinage that had circulated previously, establishing a distinct national identity. These coins were minted in London at the Royal Mint before Irish production facilities were fully transitioned.
Design heritage
Designer Percy Metcalfe won the 1926 competition to design the new coinage, overseen by W.B. Yeats. The obverse features the traditional Clare Harp, while the reverse depicts a seated hare, chosen to represent the rural character of Ireland. Metcalfe's clean, modernistic style replaced the traditional portraits of monarchs typical of the era.
Varieties and technical notes
This 1928 issue was struck in pure nickel, a material chosen for its durability and distinct feel compared to silver. Collectors should examine the plain edge for consistent thickness and check the alignment of the split date surrounding the harp for any strike irregularities. A small number of proof sets were also produced in 1928 for collectors and dignitaries.
Survival and modern availability
With a mintage of 1,500,000, the 1928 three pence is the most common of the early Irish nickel types. While many remained in circulation for decades, the transition to the Cupro-Nickel 'Barnacle' design in 1939 and subsequent decimalization in 1971 led to massive withdrawals. High-grade specimens are relatively accessible but often show surface dulling characteristic of early 20th-century nickel alloys.
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Browse more items in the full catalog or view Ireland in the country guide.