I've come to realize in the past few years that the clover leaf or shamrock is sometimes used as a Nationalist symbol. I've been told this by several people in Northern Ireland who I contact on occasion in regard to Troubles issues. More recently I came across online an article printed in the Oct. 24, 2001 issue of The Guardian that further convinces me of this. A man named Hugh Brighton reported owning a 1903 English Penny with several clover leaves stamped over the King's portrait. His understanding was that it was used as a Nationalist symbol especially by the IRA.
In any case, I have three examples in my collection. It's sad that a symbol generally meant to portray good luck has been adopted by a group like this. A bit like the swastika, also historically a good luck symbol, being co-opted as a thing of hate.
The first coin, a 1948 6p, was part of a bracelet I acquired from a man in Derbyshire quite recently. The second, a 1911 Penny, came from a souce in Lincolnshire, and the third, a 1986 Irish 20p, from a woman in Kells about 6 or 7 years ago. This coin is part of a small collection I bought from her. There's an interesting backstory here, but I'll save it for another day.
Bruce