Ireland did not adopt the brass dodecagonal threepenny coin that the United Kingdom used between 1937 and 1971.

The reverse design featuring an Irish hare was by English artist Percy Metcalfe.

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.

[3] In 1990 it was announced that the decimal two-pence coin would be redesigned to incorporate the hare from the threepence,[4] but this plan was abandoned in the face of the imminent adoption of the euro.