Irish Reul: Pre-Decimal Coinage from 1928 to 1969

Illustrated Specimen Details: Pre-Decimal Half Reul (3 Pingin)

Example Specimen: Half Reul, 1967 (Republic of Ireland)

Authority & Typography: The inscriptions on this coin are rendered in traditional Gaelic type, which served as the primary typeface for the Irish language until the mid-twentieth century. The obverse features the iconic Celtic Harp, historically known as the Trinity College or Brian Boru harp (cláirseach), serving as the elegant coat of arms of Ireland, surrounded by the state name ÉIRE and the date. The reverse showcases a beautifully rendered Irish mountain hare (Latin: Lepus timidus hibernicus). Below the hare, the tiny initials PM identify the engraver, Percy Metcalfe.

Dual Denomination: The face value is indicated in two distinct ways: as LEAṪ REUL (Half Reul) in large Gaelic letters, and as 3d (3 pingin, or three pence) in a smaller format.

1. IRELAND (from 1928 to 1969) — Struck during both the Irish Free State and the Republic of Ireland eras: 1 reul was equal to 6 pingin (pence), meaning a half reul was equal to 3 pingin.

The unique nomenclature of the reul presents a fascinating numismatic curiosity. In ancient and medieval times, coins rarely featured explicit face values due to widespread illiteracy, relying instead on weight and metal. Modern coins usually state their value clearly. However, mid-twentieth-century Irish 3d and 6d coins chose a surprising third path: they bore the prominent Irish words REUL or LEAT REUL alongside the traditional British-style shorthand 3d and 6d. The letter "d" itself is a centuries-old homage to the ancient Roman denarius, which originally inspired the first silver penny over a thousand years ago.

History and Evolution of the Irish Reul

Following the establishment of the Irish Free State, the government introduced its own distinct national coinage system in 1928. While maintaining strict parity with the British sterling pound, Ireland chose to celebrate its rich cultural identity through its currency. The standard British sixpence was given the Irish-language name reul, while the three pence piece became the leath reul (half reul). This monetary system continued uninterrupted after the formal declaration of the Republic of Ireland in 1949, remaining a staple of daily commerce until production ceased ahead of the 1971 decimalization.

The Linguistic Mystery of the Name

The word reul is a direct Irish linguistic adaptation of the famous Spanish real. Throughout a large portion of the nineteenth century, an international exchange standard existed where one pound was mathematically equivalent to 40 Spanish reales. Since the pre-decimal Irish and British pounds contained 240 pence, a simple calculation reveals why the sixpence was called a reul: 240 pence divided by 40 equals exactly 6 pence. Even after the 1947 spelling reform standardized the modern Irish spelling as réal, the historical spelling reul was proudly preserved on the coinage. Why this specific Spanish denomination was chosen exclusively for the 3d and 6d coins — while other denominations retained purely native or standard terms — remains one of the most delightful unsolved mysteries of Irish numismatics.

Physical Design and Iconography

The pre-decimal coinage of Ireland is globally renowned for its beautiful, unified artistic direction. Under the supervision of artist Percy Metcalfe, the series highlighted the natural fauna of the Irish countryside. The obverse of all denominations consistently displayed the late-medieval Gaelic cláirseach (harp), the official heraldic emblem of the nation.

The reverse designs were divided logically by denomination to assist the public:

• The Full Reul (6d): Featured the noble Irish Wolfhound standing alert.

• The Half Reul (3d): Featured the native Irish Mountain Hare in a curled profile.

Originally struck in pure nickel from 1928 to 1935, the composition was later updated to copper-nickel starting in 1942, maintaining its exact weight and dimensions until the end of the pre-decimal era.