Irish Free State: design competition

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In 1926 the Irish government set up a committee to advise on coin designs for the Irish Free State.

Eventually, the committee decided to invite a small number of international artists to take part in a private competition.

Below I will show images of the artists and their entries.

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Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963) was an Italian sculptor, artist and medallist.

The committee knew of his designs for the Italian commemorative 2 lire coin of 1923.

They commemorated the first anniversary of the Fascist government.

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Images of Morbiducci's entries.

The committee had decided that the coins should portray the indigenous wildlife of Ireland.

They particularly favoured those beasts that were important to Irish agriculture.

In addition, the obverse of the coins would portray an Irish harp.

And all inscriptions would be in the Irish language.

This was in accordance with the wishes of the Minister for Finance.

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Carl Milles (1875-1955) was a Swedish sculptor.

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Images of the designs entries of Carl Milles.

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Oliver Sheppard (1865 – 14 September 1941) RHA was an Irish sculptor.

He was most famous for his 1911 bronze statue of the mythical Cuchullain dying in battle.

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Images of Oliver Sheppard's entries.

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Paul Howard Manship (1885-1966) was an American sculptor.

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Images of Paul Manship's entries.

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Jerome Connor (1874-1943) was an Irish sculptor.

He lived and worked in the USA for some years.

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Images of Jerome Connor's entries.

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Percy Metcalfe (1895-1970) was an English artist sculptor and designer.

The committee knew of his numismatic portraits of Kings Faud of Egypt andFaisal of Iraq.

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Images of Percy Metcalfe's entries.

His alternative half penny design features a ram.

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Albert Power (1881-1945) was an Irish sculptor.

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Albert Power's designs for the competition.