SNIPPET: In 2002 with the introduction of the Euro-currency all the original coins will be consigned to history and a portion of Irish people will be around who will be able to recall using three sets of coinage. This is a phenomenon which may never again repeat itself. Researchers whose ancestors emigrated to other countries may find the history of the currency system particularly informative. The Sterling based system was introduced on the basis of a decision of the new Irish Free State which set up a Committee under the Chairmanship of the famous poet, William B. YEATS. A competition was organised and well-known sculptors and coin designers were invited to compete. A prize was offered for the winning design. The designs of Percival METCALF were successful and his designs for 8 coins were struck by the British Royal Mint in London and issued by the Irish State in 1928. The sterling system was based on using 12 pence to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound which itself equalled 240 pennies. The system was known as pounds shillings and pence or L/s/d. The L coming from the Latin word Libra and the d coming from the Latin word Denarius, which was a Roman coin. The L became written in a fancy style (with a little line running horizonally through it) and hence the symbol for pound as written to the present day. The obverse side of all coins had the same design - a 16 string Irish Harp based on what was called the 'Brian Boru Harp' in Trinity College Dublin and regarded as the National symbol, it bore the legend 'Saorstat Eireann' with the year date divided each side of the harp. In 1938 this side of these coins was altered by the use of the word Eire to mark the change to the Republic of Ireland and the legend was placed on one side of the harp and the year date on the other side. The reverse side of the coin featured its value stated numerically and in Irish script. The coins featured a series of birds and animals considered important to Ireland's dominant agricultural economy with unit and design as follows: Feoirling (Farthing) -- Woodcock in flight Leath pingin (Halfpenny) -- Sow with piglets 1d Pingin (Penny) -- Hatching hen with chicks 3d Leath-real (Threepence) -- Hare in sitting position 6d Real (Sixpence) -- Irish wolf hound 1s Sculling (Shilling) -- Bull 2s Florin (Two shillings) -- Salmon 2s 6d Leath coroin (Half-crown) -- Horse The farthing was last struck for circulation in 1959. The half-penny was last struck in 1967 and known as the 'ha' penny.' The penny was last struck in 1968 while the three pence was last struck in 1968 and was known as the 'threepenny bit.' The sixpence was last struck in 1969 and known as the 'tanner.' The shilling was last struck in 1968 and was known as the 'bob.' The florin was last struck in 1968 while the half crown was last struck in 1967. The half-penny and half-crown were demonetised on 31 Dec 1969. The penny, threepence and sixpence were demonetised with the introduction of decimalization on 18 Feb 1971. The shilling and the two shilling coins were continued in the same design and size as 5p and 10 p in the new decimal system but were demonetised in 1992 and 1993 respectively and replaced by smaller coins of the same design. (My note -- real has a little mark above the letter e and coroin above the second o. Not sure, but may be pronunciation stress marks). -- John McNabola, "Leitrim Guardian" periodical 2001