Date: 1927

1927 Morbiducci pattern (Prova) penny, only one example known to be struck in copper.

Description:

Saorstát Éireann (Irish Free State). Morbiducci Irish Penny Pattern (Prova / Proof) in Copper-Aluminium. Privately commissioned by Publio Morbiducci and struck at Lorioli Castelli’s (Milan) mint for the Irish Coin Design Competition of 1927.

• Diameter:  31 mm
• Weight:  ? g

References:

• Not listed in any of the catalogues
• Unknown to Brady when he was researching for his article

Extremely Rare – only ONE specimen recorded in Copper

• Ex-Maj. A.W. Foster collection
• Extremely Fine (EF)

Obverse:

• Large Irish Harp
• Legend:
  • · Saorstát Éireann · (above)
  • 1927 (date below)
  • Prova (Italian for ‘proof’) to the right of the harp

Reverse:

• Hen & Chicks (beneath), standing towards the left
• Legend:
  • · Pingin · (Irish for ‘penny’) above
  • Numeral ‘1’ above
  • P. MORBIDVCCI. (beneath the Hen & Chicks)

Sales History:

• Heritage Auctions, Auction 311 (10 January 2003), Lot: 12976
  • Estimate: US $5000-6000
  • Unsold

Country:

• Ireland
  • Irish Free State

Category:

• Modern Irish Coinage
  • Morbiducci Pattern (Prova/Proof)
  • 1927 Irish Coin Design Competition

Further Reading:

• Blog Post – The controversial 1927 Irish coin design competition
• Blog Post – How the Irish coin designs of 1928 influenced modern international coin design
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: Albert Power’s Irish Coin Designs (1927)
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: Oliver Sheppard’s Irish Coin Designs (1927)
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: Jerome Connor’s Irish Coin Designs (1927)
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: Carl Milles’ Irish Coin Designs (1927)
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: Publio Morbiducci’s Irish Coin Designs & Proof/Patterns (1927)
    • Alloy Varieties of the Morbiducci Proof/Patterns (1927)
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: Paul Manship’s Irish Coin Designs (1927)
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: Percy Metcalfe’s Irish Coin Designs (1927)

Web Pages:

• Modern Irish Coins
  • Mintage & Specifications of Ireland’s Euro, Decimal and Pre-Decimal Coins
• Irish Coin Catalogue
  • Latest Irish Coin Market Values
  • What are your coins worth?