Decimal Day Board. Consideration was given to introducing a new major unit of currency worth ten shillings in the old currency: suggested names included the "new pound", the "royal" and the "noble". This would have resulted in the "decimal penny" being worth only slightly more than the old penny (this approach was adopted, for example, when South Africa, Australia and New Zealand decimalised in the 1960s, adopting respectively the South African rand, Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar equal in value to 10 shillings). But Halsbury decided, in view of the pound sterling's importance as a reserve currency, that the pound should
Halfpenny (Irish pre-decimal coin) or a ram, and the sow was chosen. The obverse featured the Irish harp. From 1928 to 1937 the date was split either side of the harp with the name "Saorstát Éireann" circling around. From 1938 to 1969 the inscription changed to "Éire" on the left of the harp and the date on the right. Halfpenny (Irish pre-decimal coin) The halfpenny (d) () coin was the second smallest denomination of the pre-decimal Irish pound, worth of a pound or of a shilling. First issued in 1928 it ceased to be legal tender on 1 August 1969. The coin measured in