Coin appraisals

The quadrigatus was a medium-sized silver coin produced by the Roman Republic during the 3rd century BC. The obverse featured a young janiform bust and the reverse featured Victory driving a quadriga, giving the coin its name, with the inscription “ROMA” below.

The coin weighed about 6.8 grams (6 scruples), consistent with a didrachma. The coin was minted from c. 241 to 235 BC until shortly before the introduction of the denarius (211 BC). Gold coins of similar style were issued at this time (staters and half-staters) which featured the same obverse type as the quadrigatus and the reverse type of two soldiers performing an oath over a third soldier holding pig, with the inscription “ROMA” below. The choice of Janus for these coins is believed to coincide with the closing of the doors of the temple of Janus, indicating the absence of warfare, a rare occasion.

The victoriatus was a later coin of the same fabric that was valued at half a quadrigatus (3 scruples).

See also: Roman currency.

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The ten pence coin was introduced on Decimal Day, February 15, 1971 and reused the design on the florin coin produced for the Irish Free State in 1928. Some florin coins remained in circulation until 1994, with the same nominal value, size and weight as the ten pence coin.

The ten pence, introduced in 1971, was 11.31036 grams and a diameter of 2.85 centimetres, as a modern coin it became apparent in the late 1980s that the coins physical dimensions were large for its low value. Thus the original ten pence was last minted in 1986.

In 1993 a replacement was struck at 2.2 centimeters diameter and 5.45 grams, this new coin kept the old design but incorporated some changes notably the location of the figure and reversing the main design of the salmon. The composition of the ten pence was 75% copper and 25% nickel.

The coin was 1/10 of an Irish Pound. All of the original ten pence coins were withdrawn from June 1 1994, the miniature was withdrawn on the advent of the euro.

• Coinage (Weight and Remedy Allowance of Ten Pence Coin) Order, 1993
• Coinage (Dimension of Ten Pence Coin) Regulations, 1993

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The fifty pence coin was introduced on February 17 1970 and is a seven sided coin, an equilateral curve heptagon of constant breadth (3 centimetres) and mass 13.5 grams. The sides are not straight but are curved so that the centre of curvature is the opposite apex of the coin - this is an equilateral curve which allows the coin to roll freely in slot machines. The coin used the woodcock design from the farthing coin produced for the Irish Free State in 1928. On May 31 1988 a special design was circulated for the “Dublin Millennium”, although it was noted, at the time, that Dublin was older than 1,000 years - the issue was regarded for publicity and collectors only.

The millennium coin was the first decimal to feature words on it, the word “Dublin” in Roman script and “Áth Cliath” in Gaelic script, its equivalent in the Irish language. The coin was designed by Tom Ryan who would later design the Irish pound coin featuring the Irish red deer.

Production of fifty pence coins ceased between 1988 and 1996 because of previous oversupply and because of reduced demand following the introduction of the twenty pence coin. The coin was worth 1/2 of an Irish Pound and was withdrawn on the advent of the euro in 2002.

• Coinage (Design of Fifty Pence Coin for Year 1988) Regulations, 1988

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In Coin collecting, brockage refers to a type of error coin in which a side of the coin has both the normal image and a mirror image of the opposite side impressed on it. This is caused by an already minted coin sticking to a die and impressing onto another coin. Brockage is relatively rare and, in good condition, coins showing definite brockage can sell for large amounts of money.

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