Sixpence (Irish coin)

The sixpence (6d, Irish: reul [ɾˠeːlˠ]) coin was a subdivision of the pre-decimal Irish pound, worth ​¹⁄₄₀ of a pound or ​¹⁄₂ of a shilling. The Irish name (reul) is derived from the Spanish real. For most of the 19th century, 1 pound was equal to 5 U.S. dollars, and 1 dollar was equal to 8 reales, therefore a real was equal to ​¹⁄₄₀ of a pound, i.e. 6 pence.

Sixpence / Reul

Ireland
Value	6 pence
Mass	4.53 g
Diameter	21.0 mm
Thickness	1.9 mm
Edge	Plain
Composition	Nickel (1928–1942) Cupronickel (1942–1969)
Years of minting	1928–1969
Catalog number	—
Obverse
Design	Irish harp
Design date	1928
Reverse
Design	Greyhound
Designer	Percy Metcalfe
Design date	1928

The coin was originally struck in nickel, like the threepence coin, and was very well wearing. The metal was changed to cupronickel in 1942 as nickel increased in value; this coin, which consisted of 75% copper and 25% nickel, was not as well-wearing. The coin measured 0.825 inches (21.0 mm) in diameter and a weighed 4.53593 grams.

Five early coins were minted featuring a design by Publio Morbiducci, which depict the Wolfhound's head looking back; these coins are quite valuable, estimated at several thousand euro – they remain in the hands of collectors and were never released to circulation.

The general design of the coin was by English artist Percy Metcalfe. The obverse featured the Irish harp. From 1928 to 1937 the date was split either side of the harp with the name Saorstát Éireann circling around. From 1938 to 1969 the inscription changed to Éire on the left of the harp and the date on the right.[1] It has been suggested by some that the greyhound depicted is Master McGrath, a famous coursing greyhound raised in County Waterford. Although the frieze of Master McGrath on the Master McGrath monument in Waterford, the only public monument in Ireland to a greyhound,[2] does bear some similarity to Metcalfe's design, there is no evidence to suggest that the animal on the coin is anything other than a generic depiction.

It was expected that this coin would circulate alongside the new decimal coins, with a value of ​2 ¹⁄₂ new pence as in the United Kingdom. With this in mind the Central Bank of Ireland continued to have the coin minted, last dated 1969, while minting decimal coins. However, the coin ended up being withdrawn instead, never to become a decimal-based coin; it remains the last pre-decimal coin to come off the production run.