Date: 1642-43

Kilkenny (countermarked once) Sixpence on a Sixpence of James I (Second Coinage, 3rd bust, mm Rose)

Description:

Kilkenny Rebel Money Sixpence; issued by the Catholic Confederacy of Kilkenny from 1642-43 and counter-marked on a silver Sixpence of James I (his Second Coinage, 3rd bust, mm Rose 1605-06) for Ireland, in 1558); one counter-mark struck on the monarch’s bust in the form of a raised “K” on a castle (single mark to signify a sixpence)

• Weight:  2.22g

References:

• S.6517
• Nelson p. 11; S.6563A

Well-struck on a slightly smaller flan than expected.

• Coin fair, counter-marks fine, Very Fine (VF) for the issue
• An uncertain piece, but the counter-marks appear to be contemporary
• Extremely rare and seldom seen at auction

Obverse:

• Crowned (third) bust of James I, facing right
• Legend:
  • IACOBVS D G MAG BRIT FRA ET HIB REX
    • Translation from truncated Latin:
      • James by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland
• The third bust can be quickly identified via the ‘decorated shoulder’
  • the counter-mark is usually struck on top of the monarch’s bust in the form of a raised “K” on a castle (single counter-mark on either side signifies a sixpence).

Reverse:

• Crowned harp
• Crowned “E” to left and crowned “R” to right
• TVEATVR VNITA DEVS
  •  Translation from Latin:
    • God protect the Union
  • the counter-mark is usually struck on either side of the monarch’s bust and over the harp in the form of a raised “K” on a castle (single counter-mark on either side signifies a sixpence). In this instance, it is counter-marked over the harp on the reverse.

Country:

• Ireland

Category:

• Anglo-Norman
  • House of Stuart
• Charles I
  • Rebel Money
  • Also known as:
    • Catholic Confederacy Money
    • Emergency Money
    • Siege Money
• Hammered

Other Coins in the Series:

• The Old Currency Exchange: Checklist of Tudor & Stuart Irish Coinages

Further Reading:

• Irish Coinage during the reign of King Charles I
• Patent Farthings:
• O’Brien Coin Guide: Richmond ‘Patent’ Farthings (1625-34)
• O’Brien Coin Guide: Maltravers ‘Patent’ Farthings (1634-36)
• O’Brien Coin Guide: Maltravers ‘Rose’ Farthings (1636-49)
• Emergency Issues / Siege Money / Coins of Necessity:
• O’Brien Coin Guide: Introduction to the Emergency Coinages of the Great Rebellion of 1641-49
  • Timeline 1640 – Prologue to Rebellion in Ireland & Civil War in England
  • Timeline 1641 – The Great Rebellion breaks out in Ireland
  • Timeline 1642 – The Great Rebellion in Ireland & Civil War in England
• O’Brien Coin Guide: The Ormonde Money of 1643-44
• O’Brien Rare Coin Review: The Confederate Catholic ‘Rebel Money’ Coinage of 1642-43
• O’Brien Rare Coin Review: The Ormonde Gold ‘Pistole’ of 1646
• O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Coinage of the Cities of Refuge (Bandon 1646-49)
  • Blog Post – Selected Biographies of the Great Irish Rebellion & English Civil War
  • Blog Post – The Proliferation of Unofficial Irish ‘Farthing Tokens’ in the 17th Century