History of the Red Deer in Killarney
By the middle of the 19th century the last home of the
native Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in Ireland was in the woodlands and
mountains around. Killarney, where their preservation was due to the strict
protection of the two large estates in the Killarney Valley. The two landlords
involved were the Herberts of Muckross and the Brownes, Earls of Kenmare,
both of who established deer forests in the 1840's in the mountains around the
Lakes of Killarney, for hunting and stalking purposes. It is not known how
many deer were present at that time, although it was generally believed
that at the turn of the century there was in excess of 1500 Red Deer in
Killarney. There was however, a considerable decline in numbers from 1900 until
the end of the 1960's, when there were thought to be as few as 60 animals
left. The first scientific study of the status of the Red Deer herd showed
that there were 110 deer on Torc and Mangerton mountains in 1970. Since
then, the numbers of Red Deer have increased though rigorous protection and in
early 1990's numbers reached 690 in the National Park. The herds of Red
Deer occupy the mountain and lowland habitats of the park. The lowland Red
Deer herd is considered as two groups, inhabiting Knockreer and
Muckross respectively, with some exchange occurring between the Muckross
group and the mountain herd.
Irish Pound (£1) Irish Red
Deer
This coin was first issued in
1990 ( made from cupro nickel) to replace the pound note which had been
reduced by inflation to a value where it was necessary to replace it with
a coin. By 1989 the pound note was surviving on average about 5 month
in circulation. (The pound note was first issued in Ireland in
1781 by the Bank of Ireland following an Act of parliament authorising
paper notes in this denomination - prior to 1781 the smallest note
permitted was a five pound note). The reverse of the coin is a
red deer designed by Tom Ryan in the style of the Percy Metcalf designs
for the 1928 coinage. The normal striking of this coin is similar but without
the frosted devices and the mirror fields. The 1990 pound was struck
in two distinct mints but there are no simple means of detecting the
production of one from the other. The proof 1990 pound was reissued in
2001 in a packaged set together with an uncirculated example of the last
Irish pound note dated 17th July 1989. The proof striking was issued in a
presentation case.
Tom Ryan (Design Artist)
Born in Limerick in
1929, studied art in Limerick and Dublin. His work includes portraits ans
landscapes in particular. In addition to the £1 coin, he also designed a
50p coin and a set of ECU coins. He is a past president of the Royal
Hibernian Academy (1982-1992).
Decimal
Coins:
With the introduction of decimalisation in
1971, the penny, threepence, sixpence and halfcrown were withdrawn, and
demonitised on the 1st January 1972. The shilling and florins were equivalent to
the new five pence and ten pence coins, so the original designs were adopted for
these new coins in the interest of continuity and simplicity. The woodcock
design from the old farthing was adopted to appear on the new fifty pence. New
designs were necessary for three decimal coins, the halfpenny, penny and
twopence. A noted Irish sculptor and artist, Gabriel Hayes, was commissioned to
design these coins. The designs are based on ornamental details from Irish art
illuminations contained in old manuscripts. For example the famous The Book of
Kells." see images.
Decimal Coin Changes
A twenty pence coin was introduced in 1986,
based on the original Metcalfe halfcrown design, the alloy used being 79%
copper, 20% zinc and 1% nickel. The halfpenny was demonetised on 1st January
1987 and a new Pound coin, designed by Tom Ryan, was issued in 1990. In 1992
smaller size five pence coins were introduced, followed by reduced size ten
pences in 1993. The current decimal coin series is therefore: £1, 50p, 20p, 10p,
5p, 2p and 1p. In 1990, the metal used for the penny and twopence was changed to
copper plated steel.
Irish Coins
The Irish Government appointed a
committee, headed by William Butler Yeats, to advise them on coin designs and in
1928 the new coinage made its appearance. The designs finally selected were the
work of Percy Metcalfe. The obverse of each coin carries the traditional Irish
harp and the reverse a series of animals indigenous to the Irish countryside.
These are a woodcock on the farthing, a pig with piglets on the halfpenny, a hen
with chickens on the penny, a hare on the threepence, a wolfhound on the
sixpence, a bull on the shilling, a salmon on the florin and a horse on the
halfcrown. Because a head of the ruling monarch formerly appeared on the obverse
and harp on the reverse, many people erroneously think of the animals as being
'heads' and the harp 'tails'. Apart from a change of legend when Ireland became
a republic (on coins dated from 1949 onwards) these designs remained the same
until decimalisation on the 15th of February 1971. The farthing was only minted
in 1966 to complete the set. It was never used as currency because of it's low
value. The last minted farthing used as currency was in 1959.
Decimalisation was with us for over 30 years and is now
replaced with Euro currency since the 1st January 2002.
Measures: 1.25"
diameter
Condition: Very
Fine
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