Ireland | 1998 | 5 Pence | Coat of arms

 Ireland





The coat of arms of Ireland consists of a gold harp with silver strings on a blue field and has served as Ireland’s heraldic emblem since the 13th century. Adopted by Henry VIII in 1541 when Ireland became a kingdom, the harp later formed part of the unified royal arms after the crowns of England, Scotland, and Ireland were united in 1603. It was retained as the national emblem by the Irish Free State in 1922 and officially registered in 1945. The harp’s design evolved over time, notably featuring a female figure in the 17th century, before settling on the late-medieval Trinity College harp as the modern model. Several variants exist, and earlier entities such as the Lordship of Ireland used different arms, including three gold crowns on blue.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Belgium | 1991 | 5 Francs | King Baudouin I

Image
  King Baudouin of Belgium Baudouin (1930–1993) became King of the Belgians in 1951 after his father Leopold III abdicated. He reigned for 42 years until his death in 1993. The eldest son of Leopold III and Princess Astrid of Sweden, he had no children, so he was succeeded by his brother, Albert II. During his reign, the Belgian Congo gained independence, an event marked by tense exchanges with Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. Baudouin represented Belgium at major international events, including the 1963 state funeral of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. In 1976, the King Baudouin Foundation was established to improve living conditions in Belgium. He also held prestigious honors, including knighthood in the Orders of the Golden Fleece and the Garter. Baudouin died unexpectedly of heart failure in Spain in 1993, leading to nationwide mourning. Half a million people paid their respects during his lying-in-state, and he was buried in the royal vault at Laeken.
Read more

East Carribean States | 1965 | 10 Cents | Queen Elizabeth

Image
Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II (born 21 April 1926) became monarch in 1952 and has reigned over multiple Commonwealth realms as they evolved through decolonization and constitutional change. Initially queen of seven countries, she later served as monarch of many more, including Jamaica, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. She is the longest-lived and second longest-reigning British monarch. Born in London, Elizabeth became heir presumptive when her father, George VI, took the throne in 1936. During World War II she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1947 she married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and they had four children. Her reign has included significant events such as devolution in the UK, Canadian patriation, and major world conflicts. She has undertaken historic state visits and maintained a high level of public popularity despite periods of criticism and personal challenges, including family tragedies and public scrutiny. Her major jubilees—Silver (19...
Read more

Denmark | 1957 | 1 Krone | King Frederick IX

Image
  King Frederick IX Frederick IX (1899–1972) was King of Denmark from 1947 until his death in 1972. Born at Sorgenfri Palace, he was the son of King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine and belonged to the House of Glücksburg. With the death of his great-grandfather Christian IX in 1906 and later his grandfather Frederick VIII in 1912, Frederick’s father became King Christian X, making Frederick the crown prince. Frederick was briefly engaged to Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark but ultimately married Princess Ingrid of Sweden in 1935. They had three daughters. He served as regent from 1942–43 when his father was incapacitated. Frederick became king in 1947 and was proclaimed from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace. Near the New Year of 1972, he fell ill with flu-like symptoms, suffered cardiac arrest, and died on 14 January 1972 after several days of critical illness.  
Read more