Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1969-2000
Number of Types: 2
Composition: Copper-Nickel
Type 1 Diameter: 23.6 mm
Type 2 Diameter: 18.5 mm
Type 1 Weight: 5.66 grams
Type 1 Weight: 3.25 grams
Type 1 Total Mintage: 162,793,000
Type 2 Total Mintage: 489,153,000
Obverse Design: Harp
Reverse Design: Animal
Design
The obverse design features the Irish Harp separating the date and legend “EIRE” or Ireland.
The reverse design was based on Percy Metcalfe’s original design used on the shilling coin and features a bull facing right from 1969 to 1990 and a bull facing left from 1992 to 2000. Above the design is the denomination “5 P” 1969-90 and below the design 1992-2000.
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Types
In 1988, the size of 5 pence coinage was reduced from 5.66 grams to 3.25 grams which also required a reduction in overall size as the diameter shrunk to 18.5 mm. An additional feature to mark the change in coinage was the reversing of the original bull design from facing right to facing left.
Type 1 - Bull facing right 1971 to 1990
Type 2 - Bull facing left 1992 to 2000
General Market Notes
There are no rarities to the series. Coins are affordable and readily available.