The 1966 ten-shilling coin is Ireland’s first commemorative coin and the highest denomination of the pre-decimal pound — .833 silver honoring the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, with Patrick Pearse on the obverse and the dying Cú Chulainn on the reverse. Most of the mintage was melted, leaving a modest surviving population. This entry covers specs and the melt story.
Key facts
- One-year issue, 1966 (KM# 18), designed by T. Hugh Paget; first released into circulation 12 April 1966; edge lettered “ÉIRÍ AMACH NA CÁSCA 1916” (both normal and inverted orientations known).
- Specs: .8333 fine silver, 18.14 g, 30.5 mm; ~0.486 oz actual silver weight (NGC).
- Mintage: 2,000,000 circulation strikes plus 20,000 proofs in green presentation boxes; the coin was unpopular and approximately 1,270,000 were withdrawn and melted in 1971 (NGC notes “approximately 1,270,000 melted down”).
- Obverse: bust of Patrick Pearse — the first modern Irish coin to depict a person rather than the harp (a cointrust.co.uk observation).