Irish Coins & Tokens

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Irish / American (Colonial)

Halfpennies& Farthings

WI-7126: 1682 Irish-American St Patrick Copper Farthing. Brass anti counterfeiting plug very much in situ with excellent detail both sides. No damage or repairs. Spink 6569. Struck on a large flan (25mm diameter). This is possibly the best grade example I have ever handled. Collectors of this issue will be aware that they were struck in Dublin on soft metal and that virtually all extant examples, and there aren’t really that many in total, are grim in the extreme. A rare and desirable coin in any grade but clearly much more so this coin. £785

WI-6648: 1722 Type 1 Irish American William Wood Copper Halfpenny. About VF. Rare in this grade, rarer still being this first issue. £355

WI-5627: 1760 Irish “VOCE POPULI” Copper Halfpenny. Type 9. Ex Colin Cooke collection. £320

WI-5629: 1760 Irish “VOCE POPULI” Copper Halfpenny. Type 4. Ex Colin Cooke collection. £325

Irish "Confederate Catholics" Kilkenny Issues

WI-5485: 1642-44 Charles 1st Irish Confederate Catholics Issue Halfpenny. Struck in Kilkenny by the Irish Catholics who remained loyal to Charles 1^st. It was a very crude issue (shape, die and strike) with very few examples surviving due to the nature of the metal. A rare early Irish coin. £425

WI-7005: Charles 1st Hammered Silver Blacksmith’s Issue Half Crown. An issue of the Irish Confederate Catholics. Spink 6557. Circa 1642 and described in literature as follows: “Struck in Kilkenny, this issue was very crude in both style and production…” I’ve only ever owned one other of these although, I’ve seen a couple more on my travels in various collections. They are ALWAYS poor, should you be lucky enough to come across one. I dug out the old description when I sold the last Blacksmith half crown, which was, incidentally, from the well respected Brian Dawson collection : If you’re waiting to acquire something resembling an English Charles 1st half crown for your collection, even in Fine or less grade, save yourself an indeterminate wait as they do not exist. Here is an image of that coin. Well, your wait is over as I unreservedly take back what I previously stated because clearly, they do exist! 34mm diameter, a very good weight of 14.62 grams (15g being the English standard but more commonly found similar to this weight), toned and VF for issue, being not far off the Spink plate coin, which will be the very best example they could source to photograph and which is probably worth many, many thousands of pounds. Here’s another image of this coin, taken with a low resolution camera phone. Tickets: Ex Sotherby sale, 1972, where it was sold into the famous Bridgwater House collection, where it remained until that collection was recently dispersed. A very rare coin – one that is seldom offered to the open market and virtually never in this grade. Choice. £3,495

Irish The Great Rebellion, Coinages of the Lords Justices Issue - "Ormonde Money"

WI-7196: Irish Charles 1^st “Great Rebellion” Hammered Silver Ormonde TWOPENCE. Issued by the Lords Justices at Dublin and termed Ormond Money due to the Earl of Ormonde being appointed Lieutenant of Ireland in 1643. This issue demonstrated allegiance to the monarch by incorporating the king’s crown on the obverse. AR Twopence (13mm, 0.84 g, 10h). Issued 1643-1644. Large C•R; crown above; all within linear and beaded border / Large I•I; D above; all within linear and beaded border. D&F 310; SCBC 6550. The twopence is the rarest in terms of extant numbers of all seven denominations, and by some margin. Very few have been offered for sale in recent years. Toned. VF for issue thus rarer still. Arguably one of the finest known examples; the piece in the 2000 Millenial sale (Whytes) had been heavily scored on the obverse; the Lockett piece is very small with the arches of the crown reaching the edge of the coin on what is essentially an undersized flan. Among the few other examples I found offered in the last decade this one combines the best centring and completeness of detail as much or more than any other, including the Stack's Tallent piece (April 2008) which sold for $4,000. That piece was partly struck off the flan and the obverse crown was a fair bit cruder. Choice and excessively rare. Sold with a cabinet ticket and an information slip. £1,650

Irish James II Civil War Issues - "Gun Money"

CROWNS

WI-6690: 1690 Irish Gun Money Full Crown. Struck on the old 1689 large Gun Money Halfcrowns – this one with much host detail visible. Struck during the Civil War from brass or latten cannon, bells, etc, the idea being to redeem these Gun Money pieces for actual currency once the dust had settled. £225

WI-7166: 1690 Irish Gun Money Full Crown. Issued during the Irish Civil War as emergency coinage. Dublin. Spink 6578. Termed “Gun Money” because it was struck from brass or latten from cannon, bells, etc; the idea being to redeem these Gun Money pieces for actual currency once the dust had settled. Struck on or over the old 1689 large Gun Money halfcrowns and as such, you occasionally see HC host detail visible once the coin has been re-struck with the crown dies. However, this coin is in a league of its own: there is much host detail visible but most importantly, the original 1689 date of the old HC is clearly visible beneath the horse. A most desirable coin. £465 RESERVED (M.H.12-9-21)

Shillings

WI-5443: 1689 Irish Gun Money Shilling. Struck August 1689. £95

WI-6663: 1689 Irish Gun Money Shilling. Struck January 1689. This is the rare Spink 6581MM – ERA for FRA error. £135

Irish James II Civil War Issues - "Siege of Limerick" Money

WI-6888: 1691 (this coin undated – read on!) Limerick Besieged Copper Irish Halfpenny. Limerick was besieged in 1690-91 with no fresh metal available to mint coinage. As a result, they gathered in as much of the large Gun Money shillings (from 1689-90) as they could and over-struck them with the new "Limerick Besieged" dies. It is interesting to note that the old theory of “large shillings being halfpennies; small shillings farthings” has been resolved. It would appear that large Gun Money shillings were still used to make these Limerick halfpence pieces (evidenced so clearly on this coin) but the supposed Limerick farthings are actually still Limerick halfpennies but struck on virgin flans (presumably when they ran out of Gun Money large shillings) that were slightly smaller in flan, perhaps as a money saving exercise? This coin is the most unusual Limerick halfpenny I have ever seen:

Obverse:

1. The central crown of the reverse gun money host coin can clearly be seen, inverted 180 degrees.

2. The V is IACOBVS is an inverted A whereas it was a definite V on the obverse die itself.

Reverse:

1. The king's hair of the host coin can clearly be seen, again inverted 180 degrees.

2. There is no date (1691) whatsoever as IACOBVS (and note the V is a V, not an inverted A) still remains.

3. The N of HIBERNIA, always inverted on the die, looks more like an A with a vertical line to the right.

A truly unique and extremely interesting coin! Spink 6594. £465

WSC-7163: 1691 Irish “Limerick Besieged” James II Copper Halfpenny. Limerick was besieged in 1690-91 with no fresh metal available to mint coinage. As a result, they gathered in as much of the large Gun Money shillings (from 1689-90) as they could and over-struck them with the new "Limerick Besieged" dies. This example having much of the original host coin still visible – a desirable characteristic. Spink 6594. It is interesting to note that the old theory of “large shillings being halfpennies; small shillings farthings” has been resolved. It would appear that large Gun Money shillings were still used to make these Limerick halfpence pieces (evidenced so clearly on this coin) but the supposed Limerick farthings are actually still Limerick halfpennies but struck on virgin flans (presumably when they ran out of Gun Money large shillings) that were slightly smaller in flan, perhaps as a money saving exercise? A most interesting and historical coin. £185

"Hammered" Coinage

King John

WSC-7162: Irish King John Hammered Silver Medieval Penny. Third “Rex” coinage, circa 1208/9 – 1211/12. ROBERD ON DIVE – Dublin mint. Spink 6228. Sold with an old cabinet ticket and a detailed information slip. £195

Henry III

WI-5929: Irish Henry III Hammered Silver Voided Long Cross Penny. Class 1b, RICARD of Dublin. Spink 6236. Choice. £225

Edward I

WI-5519: Irish Edward I Hammered Silver Penny. Waterford mint, second coinage, trefoil of pellets. Good grade. £129

Edward IV

Sun & Roses Issue

WI-5279: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Penny. Sun & Rose type, 1479 – 1483. Strong portrait, some legend remaining. Interesting die flaw on obverse. Burns’ S-2 Dublin. £225

Cross & Pellets “HEAVY” issue

Pence

WI-6304: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Penny. Standard cross & pellets issue but the rarer Heavy coinage of 1465-70. Extra pellet in two of the reverse quarters. DV on reverse signifies Dublin mint. It is thought that these coins were not always heavily clipped, rather they were full size dies struck on very short flans. This one less short than most. Old, detailed ticket. A very strong portrait being slightly better than the Spink plate coin. £145

WI-5866: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Penny. Rarer Heavy coinage of 1465-70. No obverse marks. Bust C, likely Dublin mint. £65

Cross & Pellets “LIGHT” issue

Groats

WI-6607: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Groat. Light Cross & Pellets coinage of 1472-78. G on breast (Mint Master Germyn Lynch), Dublin mint. Spink 6330. Many elements of the earlier heavy issue, perhaps not surprising as the same dies were often used. However, the Sun initial mark unambiguously put this as Light Coinage. A lot rarer than Spink suggest. £285

Pence

WI-5878: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Penny. Dublin mint, 1470-78 issue. Portrait style E, Dublin mint, Burns’ DU-1. £65

WI-5879: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Penny. Dublin mint, 1470-78 issue. Pellets by neck, Dublin mint, Burns’ DU-5. £65

WI-5920: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Penny. Light cross & pellets issue of 1470-78. Burns’ DU-6, Dublin. Spink 6365. £79

WI-5967: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Penny. Light cross & pellets issue of 1470-78. Burns’ DU-6, Dublin. Spink 6365. An interesting coin as there is a partial second bust and pellet to the left. £95

WI-6498: Irish Edward IV Hammered Silver Penny. Light cross & pellets issue of 1470-78. Burns’ DU-22, Dublin. Spink 6367. An interesting coin: a Type 22 with x2 mullets by crown but an additional six pointed mullet (similar to those seen on Alexander III second issue coins) on the reverse inner beaded circle. Better grade. £75

Fitzgeralds of Kildare “Geraldine” Issue (1487)

WI-7012: Irish Hammered Silver “Three Crowns” Geraldine Groat. August to October 1487 only. Struck under the Fitzgeralds of Kildare, a powerful family who took control for a brief period after Lambert Simnel’s abortive attempt to win the crown (after Richard III, preceding Henry VII). Spink 6432. An extremely rare issue in lower grade and virtually unheard of in this VF grade. Sold with a detailed information slip. Choice. £1,450

Richard III

WI-7148: Richard III Hammered Silver Irish Penny. Cross & Pellets coinage of 1483-5. Dublin mint: [CIVI] TAS [DV]B L[IN]. Annulets by neck, distinctive Richard III face: Burns DU-17R, Spink 6410 (2020: £3,500 VF). Small of flan, as always - it is thought that these coins were not always heavily clipped; rather they were full size dies struck on very short flans. A very rare coin indeed. £1,895

Henry VII

WI-7030: Irish Henry VII Hammered Silver *CHOICE* Groat. Late portrait issue of 1496-1505. Dublin mint – type 1A: arched crown with bust breaking the plain tressure. Spink 6455. As you will undoubtedly be aware, these issues are nearly always problematic – double strikes (particularly the reverses), poor strikes, damages etc. This is a superb example and easily choice for issue. £795

WI-6912: Irish Henry VII Hammered Silver “Three Crowns” Groat. 1485-97, this is the earliest type and also the rarer of the two varieties normally seen – DOMINVS hYBERNIE both sides. Spink 6415. Further, this coin has the legend starting at 10 o’clock which is most unusual. Die linked to an example illustrated in Medieval Anglo-Irish Coins by Michael Dolley, p33. Rare. £345

Henry VIII

WI-7099: Irish Henry VIII Hammered Silver Groat. Issued in commemoration of Henry’s marriage to Jane Seymour. Spink 6473. The rarer First (1st) Harp Issue, 1534-40 but this coin dated 1536-7 in commemoration of Henry’s marriage. Subsequent wives to see their names (initials) in lights, or specifically on Harp groats, were Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Anne of Cleves seems to have been overlooked by Henry and by the time of Catherine Parr, he seemed to have realised that perhaps the coinage couldn’t keep up with his marriages. This issue is at 0.842 silver fineness with later issues going the same way as that of the English silver coinage, ie downhill. This coin encapsulated (PCGS) and graded VF35. Rare. £625 RESERVED (T.P 26-8-21: Lay-Away)

WI-6369: Irish Henry VIII Hammered Silver Groat. 1540. First (1st) Harp Issue, DOMINVS, “HR” by harp. Spink 6475. These groats circulated at 6d during Henry’s reign and were subsequently devalued to 4d during a later reign (those being counterstamped with x4 pellets). Initial mark Trefoil. With a silver content of 0.758 which although a lot better than the debased English Third Coinage issues of 1544 onwards, this does illustrate that debasement of silver was actively in progress in Ireland 4 years before it was introduced into England. As we all know for our history lessons at school, Henry VIII led a lavish lifestyle as well as going to war with Scotland and France. The country was fiscally challenged and so the idea was to create more coinage from the same amount of precious metal, resulting in coins often looking coppery in appearance. Not really a good way of going about things (although I’m minded of quantitative easing in recent years!) as the practice led to inflation with the hoarding of earlier, high silver content coins. The rarer earlier issue and sold with a very old collector’s ticket (Edward Watkins). £269

WI-7177: Irish Henry VIII Hammered Silver Groat or Fourpence. First “Harp” issue (1534-40) but right at the very end – Spink 6475 – which is dated to 1540 only. The earlier 1^st issue coins were all dedicated to three wives of Henry but as a pattern was emerging, this practise stopped, although the change of wives clearly did not. This last 1^st issue is the rarest, being rarer than all the wife issues. Interestingly, 1^st issue coins are at a 0.842 fineness (typically in the UK we use 0.925 today) but this coin has all the characteristics of being more like a second issue (0.758 fineness) silver. Funds were squandered under Henry’s watch and one of the ways they sought to remedy this was to debase the coinage. For those interested, the Irish silver in coinage was “watered down” as follows: 1^st issue = 0.842, 2^nd issue = 0.758, 3^rd issue = 0.833, 4^th issue = 0.666, 5^th issue = 0.500and 6^th issue = 0.250. The term “Old Copper Nose” was given under Henry’s reign as the latter silver coins literally had a copper colour after a bit of circulation, especially around the centre of the bust, ie around the nose area. Sold with a detailed auction printout. £325

WI-6906: Irish Henry VIII “Harp” Groat. Second (2^nd) Harp issue, Spink 6479. These groats circulated at 6d during Henry’s reign and were subsequently devalued to 4d during a later reign (those being counterstamped with x4 pellets). Initial mark Trefoil. With a silver content of 0.758 which although a lot better than the debased English Third Coinage issues of 1544 onwards, this does illustrate that debasement of silver was actively in progress in Ireland up to x4 years before it was introduced into England. As we all know for our history lessons at school, Henry VIII led a lavish lifestyle as well as going to war with Scotland and France. The country was fiscally challenged and so the idea was to create more coinage from the same amount of precious metal, resulting in coins often looking coppery in appearance. Not really a good way of going about things (although I’m minded of quantitative easing in recent years!) as the practice led to inflation with the hoarding of earlier, high silver content coins. This coin particularly nice grade with an old ticket shown here. It would be nice to think you could buy this coin for the £24 stated but alas, you can’t as this was the price in the 1970’s! £325

WI-6394: Irish Henry VIII Hammered Silver Groat. 1543. Third (3^rd) Harp Issue, i.m. rose. “HR” by harp. Nice grade. £225

WI-6849: Henry VIII Posthumous (struck under Edward VI) IRISH Hammered Silver Threepence. In the name of Henry but struck after his death, under his son, Edward VI. This is the last issue, type IV, with the Tower bust – it is thought a lot of these Irish coins were actually struck using dies made in England. Spink 6491. A rarer denomination and a coin in very nice grade indeed, especially considering this was the billon or “watered down silver” period (it actually got worse in Ireland in 1552 with some coins being so debased that they looked like copper coins!). £700 in VF in the very outdated Spink price guide. £395

Edward VI

WI-6395: Irish Henry VIII Dublin Hammered Threepence. Actually struck under Edward VI, 1547-50. Type IV, Dublin mint. Strong detail on this debased silver issue. £165

WI-6426: Irish Edward VI, struck under Henry VIII, Dublin Hammered Sixpence. Struck under Edward VI, 1547-50. Type IV, Dublin mint. Not far off being ‘as struck’. Spink 6488. £455

Philip & Mary

WI-5778: 1555 Philip & Mary Irish Facing Busts Shilling. Debased hammered silver - nice grade for this usually poor issue. £325

WI-5363: 1556 Philip & Mary Irish Facing Busts Groat. Debased hammered silver - nice grade for this usually poor issue. £325

Elizabeth 1st

WI-7140: 1559 Elizabeth 1^st Irish Hammered Billon Silver Groat. First issue, preceding the 1561 fine silver issue, at 0.250 silver content. Ex Walter Wilkinson collection, accompanied by all his tickets. The Walter Wilkinson collection was one of the best collections of Elizabeth 1^st coinage ever put together. Throughout the long life of the collection, Walter was constantly buying in better grade examples to improve the collection. This coin is a superb example which I have certainly not shown through my poor images. It’s a VF coin, regardless of the atrocious nature of the issue in general and the provenance is as good as it gets. £575

WI-6671: 1559 Irish Elizabeth 1^st Hammered Billon Silver Groat. Base issue of 1559 only. Spink 6504. Very good grade for issue. £185

WI-5542: 1601 Irish Elizabeth 1^st Hammered Copper Penny. Initial mark Star and on a generous planchets. Most of these coins come out of the ground (it is interesting to note that examples have been unearthed from the Jamestown site in America, along with later James 1^st hammered silver coinage) and as a result the copper corrodes. The entire Third Issue of Irish coinage, 1601-02 only, was an emergency issue brought about by the need to pay the large numbers of soldiers who were in Ireland. Their role was to defeat the “independent and warlike” Irish of the North, under the leadership of O’Neil, and to expeditiously “Shire” Ireland and bring it under English rule, basically making Ireland an extension of England. The Earl of Essex was in command of the English troops but was recalled to England where he was duly executed. His replacement, Mountjoy, somewhat motivated by the fate of his predecessor, did a much better job. This is a very nice example with clear detail. £155

WI-5575: 1602 Irish Elizabeth 1^st Hammered Copper Penny. Initial mark Martlet. Most of these coins come out of the ground (it is interesting to note that examples have been unearthed from the Jamestown site in America, along with later James 1^st hammered silver coinage) and as a result the copper corrodes. The entire Third Issue of Irish coinage, 1601-02 only, was an emergency issue brought about by the need to pay the large numbers of soldiers who were in Ireland. Their role was to defeat the “independent and warlike” Irish of the North, under the leadership of O’Neil, and to expeditiously “Shire” Ireland and bring it under English rule, basically making Ireland an extension of England. The Earl of Essex was in command of the English troops but was recalled to England where he was duly executed. His replacement, Mountjoy, somewhat motivated by the fate of his predecessor, did a much better job. The rarer date. £195

WI-7188: 1602 Irish Elizabeth 1^st Hammered Copper Halfpenny. An excessively rare date for this denomination. The entire Third Issue of Irish coinage, 1601-02 only, was an emergency issue brought about by the need to pay the large numbers of soldiers who were in Ireland. Their role was to defeat the “independent and warlike” Irish of the North, under the leadership of O’Neil, and to expeditiously “Shire” Ireland and bring it under English rule, basically making Ireland an extension of England. The Earl of Essex was in command of the English troops but was recalled to England where he was duly executed. His replacement, Mountjoy, somewhat motivated by the fate of his predecessor, did a much better job. Spink 6511A – Spink didn’t even bother differentiating between the two dates until recently as so few 1602 halfpennies exist. The silver Third Coinage is much debased and the pence copper. Halfpennies are rarer than pennies whilst 1602 halfpennies are very rare coins indeed. £395 RESERVED (M.H.7-9-21)

James 1st

WI-5595: Irish James 1st Hammered Silver 6d. 1604-7, initial mark rose so 1606 – 1607. An extremely good grade example of a usually poorly struck obverse issue. £265

Pre 1800 "Milled" Coinage

James II

WI-7139: 1685 Irish James II Copper Halfpenny. The regular issue (before the Gun Money issues), under Sir John Knox, Lord Mayor of Dublin. Spink 6576. Struck with a soft copper alloy which resulted in much wear through relatively little circulation. You rarely see high grade Irish “regular” coppers from this period (Irish W&M wear even worse) but this coin is the exception. Comes with a detailed information slip which grades at abt VF for issue. £349

WI-5950: 1686 Irish James II Copper Halfpenny. Regular coinage issue (prior to the Civil War). Nice grade for issue. Spink 6576. £95

WI-6766: 1688 Irish James II Copper Halfpenny. Regular coinage issue (prior to the Civil War). Nice grade for issue and the rarest of the x4 dates, apart from 1687 where virtually non are extant. Sold with old tickets. Spink 6576. £165

William & Mary

WI-6725: 1692 William & Mary Conjoined Busts Copper Halfpenny – High Grade. A Dublin halfpence that was struck for only three years (the English version was only in operation for one year), this one being the rarest date. Spink 6597. Made from the softest of copper (the Charles II copper halfpence issue was equally soft), ie without the “hardening” elements to the alloy of later years, these coins were notoriously prone to wear through minimal handling. The Spink plate coin is truly exceptional, being the best known example and worth well into four figures. Planchet flaw – obverse king’s hair. A very nice coin indeed. £225

WI-6934: 1693 William & Mary Conjoined Busts Copper Halfpenny – High Grade. A Dublin halfpence that was struck for only three years (the English version was only in operation for one year). Spink 6597. Made from the softest of copper (the Charles II copper halfpence issue was equally soft), ie without the “hardening” elements to the alloy of later years, these coins were notoriously prone to wear through minimal handling. This one an unrecorded overdate. Rare. £245

WI-6678: 1694 William & Mary Conjoined Busts Copper Halfpenny – an unrecorded error. A Dublin halfpence with the MA.RIA error very clearly displayed on the obverse. Spink 6597, although this variety is completely unrecorded in Spink as well as the much more comprehensive Peck. There is an argument which suggests that errors such as these were die sinkers’ identifying markers as nobody else at the time would notice. We see this a great deal in the Commonwealth silver series, in the form of missing / extra pellets and although that was hammered and this is milled, Commonwealth and W&M were only 30 odd years apart. An important and rare variety. £155

William III

WI-5991: 1696 Irish William III Copper Halfpenny. 1696 was the only year William III struck the halfpenny and the halfpenny was the ONLY denomination issued. This coin is better than the Spink plate coin (S.6598) which tells you it is extremely good grade for issue. £225

Post 1800 Coinage

1d’s

WI-5853: Irish 1805 George III Large Copper Penny. Soho coinage (Birmingham). Much rarer than the halfpennies. £45

1/2d’s

WI-5623: 1805 Irish Copper Halfpenny. Ex Colin Cooke collection. £95

WI-6548: 1805 Irish GILT-PROOF Copper Halfpenny. Plain edge, EF or better. £265

1/4d’s

WI-5922: 1806 Irish Copper Farthing. Toned. £29

Irish Communion Tokens

WI-5590: Mid 1800’s IRISH Church Communion Token. Presbyterian Church of Ireland. 99.9% of all Communion Tokens are Scottish. Burzinski 7552. £48