Date: 1827

1827 Hibernian Bank Thirty Shillings Token, 1 February 1827

Description:

1827 Hibernian Bank Thirty Shillings Token, Type 1 (no ‘promissory’ text).

• Manually dated ‘1 February 1827’ and numbered ‘3554’.
• Countersigned front and back
• Cancelled with ink ‘x’ over clerk and cashier’s signatures
• A rare early paper note

Obverse:

• Design comprises two vignettes, one to the left of Hibernia seated with a harp and the other (on the right) of the Three Graces.
• Denomination in words ‘THIRTY SHILLINGS’ at the centre, with the word ‘TOKEN’ above. In the upper border, the name ‘HIBERNIAN BANK’  is used, while in the centre of the note, the name ‘HIBERNIAN JOINT STOCK COMPANY’ is used. The bank’s location ‘DUBLIN’ appears below.
  • Engraved and printed by Perkins & Heath, London
  • Size: 175mm x 100mm

Reverse:

• Blank (Uniface)

Notes:

• Despite being a new bank with substantial backing, the Chancellor of the Exchequer refused to grant the Hibernian Bank permission to issue its own banknotes.
  • Registered as The Hibernian Joint Stock and Annuity Company, it opened in June 1825, with a massive 1,063 shareholders, many of them London based
  • It was founded by a group of Dublin businessmen in response to anti-Catholic discrimination by Bank of Ireland. Daniel O’Connell was a vociferous supporter in the House of Commons
  • It later changed its name to The Hibernian Bank.
• This would have impeded their progress considerably, so they improvised and issued tokens instead. These Hibernian-issued tokens, although legal, were withdrawn following their opposition by Bank of Ireland.

Country:

• Ireland

Category:

• Early Irish Banknotes
  • Joint-Stock Banks
  • Hibernian Bank
    •  Thirty Shillings
      • Token
      • Type 1

Further Reading:

Books & Catalogues (Irish Banknotes & Paper Money)

• Irish Banknotes, Irish Paper Money 1783-2005
  • Martin MacDevitt, Meath Ireland (2005)
• Paper Money of Ireland – the definitive guide to Irish banknotes
  • Bob Blake & Jonathan Callaway (West, 2009)
• Irish Banknotes – Irish Government Paper Money From 1928
  • Martin MacDevitt (1999)
• Consolidated Banknotes of Ireland
  • Derek Young (1974)
• Legal Tender Banknotes
  • Derek Young (1972)