Coin
½ Reul = 3 Pence (1949) — Ireland
Ireland • 1949 • KM# 12a, Sp# 6642, Schön# 12a
Overview
Pre-Decimal Irish 3 Pence coin from 1949.
Specifications
- Country
- Ireland
- Year
- 1949
- Composition
- Copper-nickel
- Weight
- 3.24 g
- Diameter
- 17.7 mm
- Thickness
- 1.81 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM# 12a, Sp# 6642, Schön# 12a
- Issuer
- Ireland
Design details
Obverse
Irish harp with the country name to the left and the date to the right.
Reverse
Seated hare, facing left with the words leat & reul 3d
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Percy Metcalfe is credited as the designer for the Pre Decimal 1939-1969 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 1,200,000. 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# 12a, Sp# 6642, Schön# 12a. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
During 1949, Ireland officially declared itself a republic, breaking its last formal ties with the British monarchy. Despite this political transition, the Irish pound remained pegged to the British pound sterling, and the currency system continued to utilize pre-decimal denominations like the three pence. This specific issue was struck at the Royal Mint in London to meet the domestic demand for small change in the post-war Irish economy.
Design heritage
The design was created by Percy Metcalfe, an English artist who won the 1928 competition to design the new Irish Free State coinage. The obverse features the Clàrsach, a traditional Irish harp modeled after the Trinity College Harp, while the reverse depicts a seated hare. Metcalfe's work on this series is celebrated for its clean, modernist interpretation of native fauna and national symbols.
Varieties and technical notes
This 1949 issue was struck in copper-nickel, following the transition from nickel that had occurred earlier in the decade. Collectors should examine the plain edge for consistent thickness and the alignment between the obverse harp and reverse hare motifs. No major recognized die varieties are documented for this specific year, though variations in strike depth are occasionally noted on the animal's fur detail.
Survival and modern availability
With a mintage of 1,200,000, this date is relatively common within the series but becomes difficult to source in high mint state grades due to heavy circulation. Many specimens were removed from the money supply following the decimalization of the Irish currency in 1971. Survivors are often found with significant surface wear, as the copper-nickel alloy was prone to contact marks during its years of active use.
Related pieces
More from Ireland
Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view Ireland in the country guide.