The 1993 film "Leprechaun" is about an evil Irish Leprechaun who arrives in America to recover a stolen pot of gold. Several types of gold and metal coins appear in the film, as well as a coin dealer and a numismatic coin catalog. Old Spanish gold and silver coins predominate, they would have to be copies or prop coins. The Leprechaun is evil because, as he states, "I sold my soul for gold." He kills and injures various people in unusual ways while hunting for his gold coins, and sometimes is heard to exclaim "I wants me gold!." The film was followed by several sequels and coins were featured in the second and third films, Leprechaun 2 and Leprechaun 3. Some examples of coins and numismatic items from the two sequels are shown here.

The film opens with a traditionally dressed Leprechaun sitting at his pot of gold.

Ten years ago a man stole some gold from a Leprechaun and brought the goods to the United States, specifically a small town in North Dakota, followed by the Leprechaun. He managed to lock the Leprechaun in a box protected by a magic four leaf clover and then have a stroke, leaving the house vacant. Tory and her father arrive to take over the house and meet some local residents.

Nathan is a handsome contractor who soon becomes Tory's boyfriend. Alex is his little brother and Ozzie is a dim-witted painter. Ozzie accidently removes the protecting clover and frees the Leprechaun.

He immediately asks "Where's me gold?" but Ozzie and Alex find it first in an abandoned truck. The pair pass one coin between each other.

Only the reverse of the coin is shown which is a copy of a Spanish dollar or eight reales silver coin.

An example of a Spanish dollar coin:

Spanish coins circulated in the American Colonies and the United States until the 1850's.

Ozzie manages to swallow a coin and the pair take another coin to a local coin dealer.

The coin dealer pulls out an old numismatic catalog to identify the coin.

The dealer opens the antique "Ancient Coins of Ireland" to a page on gold coins.

The page shows some early 1600's coins and reads (in part):

The coins in the catalog are actually British coins which circulated in Ireland, which was occupied by Britain at that time. The dealer tells the lads that the coin might be worth a lot of money, and asks to keep it overnight to do more research on it. They agree and the dealer keeps it. The Leprechaun arrives, takes the coin, and kills the dealer with a pogo stick. Back at the house the four are engaged in a fight with the Leprechaun.

The fighting continues with Tory and Nathan armed with guns, they discover that the Leprechaun can be shot but not killed. The Leprechaun finds the coins in a well where the lads had hidden them.

Tory visits a nursing home to talk to the previous owner and he tells her that a four leaf clover will kill the Leprechaun. She and the others start searching the fields for one, and find one. Alex uses a slingshot to fire the clover wrapped around a rock at the Leprechaun who, before dying, pronounces a curse.

"Leprechaun" was a big hit and was followed by several sequels. "Leprechaun 2" (1994) is set in Los Angeles, where the lad kidnaps and attempts to marry a local woman. Her boyfriend has to defeat the Leprechaun and rescue her. In this film, the Leprechaun's treasure consists of various coins, but later Spanish eight escudos coins or doubloons predominate.

The upper center coin is a Spanish dollar, possibly the one from the first film.

The Leprechaun finds an American quarter (25 cents) coin left by a man.

Left of center, an ancient Greek coin appears, also some traditional prop coins appear.

Another coin dealer has an old book, "A History of Ornaments", which is used to identify an ancient Celtic gold coin brought in by the boyfriend. Celtic gold coins were made from around BC 100 to AD 100.

In the upper center a United States John F. Kennedy half dollar appears which may be gilded. Ironically, in 2014, the United States issued a gold Kennedy half dollar.

Some Celtic gold coins had horses on them like this one.

"Leprechaun 3" (1995) is set in Las Vegas, where a young man and a showgirl become involved with the title character. In this film the Leprechaun's treasure consists of Spanish eight escudos coins or doubloons, and one is used as a "lucky" coin. This coin grants wishes, but they turn out bad when the Leprechaun arrives.

The coin appears to be a Spanish doubloon or eight escudos gold coin dated 1805. An example of a Spanish doubloon coin:

Spanish gold coins have long been associated with Ireland due to stories of Spanish treasure ships coming from America being shipwrecked on the coasts of Ireland.

The Leprechaun uses his magical powers to create a human slot machine.

The Leprechaun pot of gold with Spanish doubloons.

Warwick Davis as The Leprechaun

Jennifer Aniston as Tory Reding
Ken Olandt as Nathan Murphy
Director: Mark Jones
Writers: Mark Jones

Charlie Heath as Cody
Shevonne Durkin as Bridget
Director: Rodman Flender
Writers: Mark Jones, Turi Meyer, Al Septien

John Gatins as Scott McCoy
Lee Armstrong as Tammy Larsen
Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Writers: David DuBos, Mark Jones