All featured ornamental birds designed by Irish artist Gabriel Hayes on the reverse.

The coin originally had a diameter of 2.032 centimetres and mass of 3.564 grams consisting of copper, tin and zinc.

This was identical to the British decimal penny as the two countries' pounds were pegged until 1979.

In 1988 the decision was taken to produce the coin on a copper-plated steel base as bronze had become too expensive.

In 1990 it was announced that the penny would be redesigned to incorporate the wolfhound design from the pre-decimal sixpence,[1] but this plan was abandoned in the face of the imminent adoption of the euro.