Ireland ¼ penny (farthing) 1928 - Irish Free State - Snipe

The coin's story

The farthing (feoirling in Irish), the smallest Irish coin, was worth a quarter of a penny, its name comes from Old English and means “quarter”. It belongs to the very first coinage of independent Ireland, put into circulation on 12 December 1928 in the name of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann). A committee chaired by the poet w. b. yeats chose animals rather than portraits or political symbols: this is the “Barnyard series”, designed by the English sculptor Percy Metcalfe. The woodcock, despite its small size, was important game, also found on the tables of farm labourers. The design was later taken up on the 50 pence coin, from 1970 to 2000. The legend SAORSTÁT ÉIREANN was replaced by ÉIRE after the Constitution of 1937. With 300,000 pieces, 1928 is the first year of striking of the Irish farthing.