Talk:Fifty pence (Irish coin)

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I have not uploaded an image of the woodcock coin but will resolve this in due course. Djegan 23:41, 2 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Uploaded image, will attempt to get better image - this image completes the series of Irish coinage images as every coin circulated now has a corresponding image on wikipedia. Djegan 15:05, 1 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Comment by user Johnsl[edit]

The following comment has been moved from the article page:

It is not true that fifty pences became rare after 1988 - the twenty pence had been introduced in 1986 and this changed the dynamics of the currency. The 1988 production of fifty pences of both types, the normal woodcock type and the Dublin millenium type, represented a signifiant oversupply of the coins. The reason that fifty pences were not produced again until 1996 was that there were still millions of unissued 1988 pieces available in the Central Bank of Ireland. In fact the 1996 issue was primarily produced to produce all the denominations for a 1996 set and was not required for circulation demands.

Comment by user Johnsl[edit]

It is not true that the fifty pence coin was introduced on Decimal Day (15-Feb-1971). The fifty pence along with the five pence and ten pence were exchangeable 1:1 with Irish LSD denominations so these three coins were introduced before full decimalisation. The five pence was identical in size and of the same value as the shilling and the ten pence was identical in size and of the same value as the florin so these two coins entered circulation with no changes at all required. The fifty pence replaced the previous 10 shilling note which was withdrawn at the end of 1969 and these coins entered circulation early in 1970 to meet the shortfall caused by the lack of the withdrawn notes (and the halfcrown coins which had also been withdrawn at the end of 1969). It was only the halfpenny, the penny and the two pence which were introduced on decimal day as these coins were not directly exchangeable with the previous currency - a decimal penny being worth 2.4 'old' pennies. In fact the two sets of coins circulated in parallel for three days (Monday to Wednesday) before the old penny and old threepence could no longer be used. The old sixpence (equal to exactly 2 1/2 new pence) survived a bit longer as there had been some consideration of introducing an equivalent new denomination, but this was not implemented and the sixpence was withdrawn towards the end of 1971. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Johnsl (talk • contribs) 16:50, 9 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I might have a source on the actual dates of issue of the coins, although it means digging through a pile of old books tonight, but as far as I know, with the proviso that it really is what I can remember from reading (I'm just a tad too young to remember), the 5, 10 and 50p coins were definitely issued before D-Day, per John above. If I can find the source, I'll add it.FlowerpotmaN·(t) 17:12, 9 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

This article (The Irish Pound: From Origins to EMU) (page 6) from the Central Bank Quarterly Bulletin says the 5, 10 and 50p coins were issued before D-Day to "in order to help the public to become familiar with the new currency." At a guess, it was a combination of the two reasons, familiarity and lack of the larger denomination coins, but that would need to be sourced. FlowerpotmaN·(t) 17:28, 9 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Decimal[edit]

Why is the word "decimal" in the disambiguator? I don't believe Ireland ever issued a 4s2d coin. jnestorius^(talk) 23:13, 25 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]