I am frequently asked the following questions and I openly admit to struggle to answer them adequately – the negative side of being a generalist dealer (constantly buying old attic finds and selling oddments from same), as opposed to being a specialist numismatic expert like so many of my much more knowledgeable customers. Who ordered…
The penny (1d) (Irish: pingin) coin was the third smallest denomination of the pre-decimal Irish pound. There were 12 to a shilling, 24 to a florin and 240 to a pound. To express an amount, penny was abbreviated to “d”, e.g. shortened from dwt, or pennyweight. The penny is one of the longest circulating coin denominations in Europe –…
The halfpenny (½d) (Irish: leath phingin) was the second-lowest value coin of the pre-decimal Irish pound. There were 2 to a penny, 24 to a shilling, 48 to a florin and 480 to a pound. First issued in 1928 it ceased to be legal tender on 1 August 1969, although they were readily accepted by shopkeepers until decimal…
Ireland is one of only four nations to issue farthing coins in the 20th century. The other three countries to circulate farthings were the UK (1900-1956), South Africa (1923-60), and Jamaica (1900-63). British farthings ceased to be legal currency in 1960 The farthings of South Africa, Jamaica and Ireland ceased to be legal currency in 1961, 1969…
The Year of the Five Emperors (AD 192 – 193) Pertinax The ‘Year of the Five Emperors’ refers to the year AD 193, in which there were five claimants for the title of Roman Emperor – Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus. The year opened with news of the murder of Commodus…
In 1922 Ireland won its independence from Britain after a two-year War of Independence and protracted negotiations in London. The team, authorized to negotiate on behalf of Dáil Eireann, signed a treaty and, after ratification by ‘simple majority’ in the Dáil and by a referendum vote by the Irish people, the Irish Free State was…
Coin Slabbing: A Definition: Slabbing, or to give it its full grandiose definition… “Slabbed coins, in coin-collecting terminology, refers to coins sealed in clear plastic containers bearing the opinions of professionals working at a coin-grading service relating to authenticity and condition.“ Please note, this does not include: Any professional opinion re how ‘rare’ the coin…
Introduction The Irish government began minting the original 10p coin two years prior to Decimal Day, 15 February 1971, hence the first 10p coins were dated 1969 and 1971 – when they were first circulated. These coins retained the exact design and dimensions (except denomination) of the old (pre-decimal) florin coin, first introduced to the…
The new Irish 20p coin In 1982 the then Minister for Finance, Ray MacSharry, announced that a twenty or twenty-five pence coin might be designed and in August 1984 the twenty pence was chosen. The Arts Council of Ireland recommended the horse design. The twenty pence (20p) coin was introduced on 30th October 1986. It was first…
In 1937, a new constitution declaring Ireland a free state was established and the old designs for the coins of Ireland that featured the legend “Saorstat Eireann” or Irish Free State were changed to “Eire” to reflect the new constitution. The only known 1938 coins to feature that revised legend are: one halfcrown (currently unique…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 