Which Irish coins are valuable? The answer depends on the individual coin. Date, denomination, scarcity, condition, and collector demand all matter, so the same type can trade very differently.
The examples below are Irish issues worth researching. They identify coins that may attract collector interest, not fixed price estimates.
Value depends on scarcity for the type and condition, along with the number of collectors looking for that coin.
Condition can change the market value substantially. Compare the actual coin with recent specialist listings instead of relying on a headline figure.
Which Irish Coins are Valuable?
1937 Florin (2 Shilling)
The 1937 florin belongs to Ireland’s pre-decimal series, whose designs were created by Percy Metcalfe.
When assessing one, check the date and denomination, then compare its condition with recent specialist listings.
A defensible valuation needs the individual coin’s condition and comparable sales, so no current price is stated here.
1937 Half Crown
The 1937 half crown is another pre-decimal Irish issue associated with Percy Metcalfe’s designs.
Any valuation should be tied to the specific coin’s condition and to comparable sales, not a fixed headline number.
A mintage figure by itself does not establish what an example is worth today.
Without a dated, coin-specific market source, no current price can be stated responsibly.
1985 Half Penny
The 1985 halfpenny is a decimal-era Irish coin, distinct from the Penny guide linked here.
Do not confuse its historical face value with a collector price. Any premium depends on the exact coin, its condition, and demand.
The historical face value is separate from any later collector premium. A current premium cannot be stated without evidence about the individual coin.
1937 Shilling
The 1937 shilling is part of Ireland’s pre-decimal series, with designs associated with Percy Metcalfe.
A date and denomination do not guarantee rarity or a high price, so inspect the coin and compare it with recent sales.
The exact market value still depends on the condition and demand for the individual example.
A current price cannot be stated without a dated, coin-specific market source.
1943 Half Crown
The 1943 half crown is a pre-decimal Irish issue from the period before the euro entered circulation.
The Old Currency Exchange discusses the limited 1943 issue and historical auction results, while noting that the result depends on the individual coin and the sale.
Treat unsupported surviving-population figures with caution. A specialist assessment should identify the exact variety and condition.
A maximum price cannot be stated without a dated, coin-specific market source.
1985 20 Pence
The 1985 20 pence belongs to Ireland’s decimal coinage.
Some 1985 Irish 20 pence pieces were made as test pieces for vending-machine calibration, according to the IrishCentral account cited below.
That history makes identification important: a test piece should be assessed against its specifications and provenance.
The test pieces were intended to return to the bank, but some did not.
Identified test pieces can be scarce, but an ordinary 1985 20 pence should not be treated as rare without evidence.
Confirm the exact issue before seeking a valuation. A current price cannot be stated without evidence about the individual coin.
1943 Florin (2 Shilling)
The 1943 florin is a pre-decimal Irish coin. Specialist Irish coin references describe it as one of the rarest modern Irish coins to have circulated.
Metcalfe, Percy, the designer. Coins were struck at the Royal Mint’s Tower Hill Site in London between 1939 and 1943.
Survival estimates vary by source, so use a specialist reference and the coin’s condition when assessing an example.
Historical auction results are evidence of past transactions, not a guaranteed current value. Check the latest comparable sales before valuing an example.
Before you go…
These examples are a starting point. If you own one, record its date, denomination, condition, and any evidence that it is a test or unusual issue before asking for a valuation. Happy collecting.
For a broader comparison, read 7 Foreign Coins Worth Money: Here’s a List of Valuable Coins from Around the World!.
Related Articles:
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- Top 10: Most Valuable Chinese Coins!
- 7 of the Coolest Rare Coins in the World!
Fact-checked and refreshed on 2026-07-23. This article is part of GrandCollector’s editorial freshness program.
Notes
- Central Bank of Ireland, Old Irish Coins, for the history and denominations of Irish pre-decimal and decimal coinage.
- The Old Currency Exchange, Why is the 1943 Irish Florin so valuable?, for specialist context and historical auction discussion.
- IrishCentral, A guide to valuing all your old Irish coins, for the 1985 Irish 20 pence test-coin account and valuation caveats.
- Irish Coinage, Catalog of Modern Irish Coin Prices 1928-1969, for historical context on scarcity, condition, collector demand, and the limits of catalogue prices.