Date: 1938-40

1939 Currency Commission Ireland, Five Pounds, dated 7th February 1939, Brennan-McElligott

Description:

A Currency Commission of the Irish Free State, Five Pounds, Type 2 (No War Code). Signed by: Joseph Brennan / James J. McElligott.

• Designer: John Harrison, Chief Portrait Engraver of Waterlow and Sons Ltd, London
• Engraved and printed by Waterlow & Sons, on Portal’s paper, in London
• Size: 92mm x 165mm
  • Known Dates: 15
    
  • 5-JUL-1938, 4-AUG-1938, 6-SEP-1938, 3-OCT-1938
    
  • 3-JAN-1939, 7-FEB-1939, 9-MAR-1939, 5-APR-1939, 9-MAY-1939, 8-JUN-1939, 6-JUL-1939, 3-AUG-1939, 4-SEP-1939, 2-OCT-1939, 1-NOV-1939

Obverse:

• Dual Language titles:
  • Currency Commission Ireland
  • Comisiún Airgid Reatha Éire
• Oval panel to the left, with an archetypal Irish Cailín (Girl) as the central theme
  • Allegedly based on a Lady Hazel Lavery portrait (Head and shoulders only)
    • These notes are colloquially referred to as the ‘Lady Lavery’ series
• Denonomination:
  • ‘£5’ in all four corners of an ornate frame
  • Text ‘FIVE POUNDS’ on the left and right hand sides of the frame
• In-line S/N: 34T 039477
• Two signatories:
  • Joseph Brennan
    • Chairman of the Currency Commission
    • Cathaoirleach Choimisiúin an Airgid Reatha
  • James J. McElligott
    • Secretary of the Department of Finance
    • Rúnaí na Roinne Airgid
• Watermark:
  • Head of Erin

Reverse:

• Ornate rectangular frame, with River Lagan mask in ornate centre panel
• Note: Centered in an ornamental design is a so-called River Mask, which can be found on the façade of the Dublin Custom House. The masks represent various rivers in Ireland, and were designed by the sculptor Edward Smythe.

Country:

• Ireland

Category:

• Modern Irish Banknotes
  • Currency Commission Irish Free State
    • Five Pounds
    • Type 2

Further Reading:

• Blog Post: The Transition from Irish Joint-Stock Bank Issues to Central Bank of Ireland Banknotes (1922-1943)
• Blog Post: The Currency Commission of Ireland
• Link: The Currency Act, 1927

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)