Hibernia was the old Latin name for Ireland, used by Greek and Roman writers in various forms. Indeed, the Roman historian Tacitus, in his 98 AD biography, Agricola, about his father-in-law, Gnaeus Julius Agricola, the Governor of Britain, wrote of his plan to conquer the island in 80 AD. The Roman emperor, Vespasian, forbade it, and it was spared, never becoming part of the Roman Empire.
The female personification of Hibernia, is a later addition, and was popularised in the 19th century, depicted as a junior to Britannia. With these figures becoming very popular in modern numismatics, it’s of little surprise that the Irish figure has appeared, but perhaps surprising that it’s taken so long. The coin has a classic depiction, very much in the style of the Royal Mint’s ‘Britannia’, and the Germania Mint’s numerous offerings, right down to the patterned background field.
The figure is, like most of this type, fairly generic, with the national essence coming from what they are depicted with, such as Britannia’s trident. In Hibernia’s case, that will be the lyre, something most will know from its adorning of a bottle of Guinness. A coin that should have plenty of appeal to the collector of the classics.