Coin
½ Reul = 3 Pence (1950) — Ireland
Ireland • 1950 • KM# 12a, Sp# 6642, Schön# 12a
Overview
Pre-Decimal Irish 3 Pence coin from 1950.
Specifications
- Country
- Ireland
- Year
- 1950
- 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 1,600,000. 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
Following the transition to a republic in 1949, Ireland continued its established currency system pegged to the British Pound Sterling. The 1950 three pence was struck in London during a period of steady economic stabilization and continued usage of the unified series for the Irish Free State's successor. This issue reflects the post-war shift from nickel to copper-nickel alloys necessitated by global metal shortages.
Design heritage
Percy Metcalfe designed the motifs, which feature the iconic Irish harp on the obverse and a seated hare on the reverse. Metcalfe was also responsible for the coinage of several Commonwealth nations and the 1928 Irish Coinage Committee winning entries. The Gaelic inscription 'Leath Reul' translates to 'Half Real,' a historical nod to the Spanish colonial currency that once circulated in the region.
Varieties and technical notes
The 1950 issue was produced with a plain edge and round shape at the Royal Mint in London. Collectors typically look for strike consistency on the hare's fur and the harp's strings, which can vary due to die wear. While no major die varieties are recognized for this specific date, the series is known for occasional minor rotation errors and planchet surface irregularities.
Survival and modern availability
With a mintage of 1,600,000, this date is relatively accessible to collectors but less common than the higher-mintage runs of the 1960s. Many examples were withdrawn and melted following the decimalization of Irish currency in 1971. High-grade specimens are desirable as the copper-nickel surfaces are prone to dulling and dark toning after years in general circulation.
Related pieces
More from Ireland
Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view Ireland in the country guide.