Date: 1797 Description: These tokens were given to beggars in Dublin and were exchangeable for food at certain places in the City of Dublin. The idea was to stop them from buying alcohol, as the tokens could only be exchanged for food at approved premises. They had no redeemable value; they were not legal tender.…
Introduction: The South Sea Bubble was a speculative bubble in the early 18th century involving the shares of the South Sea Company, a British international trading company that was granted a monopoly in trade with Spain’s colonies in South America and the West Indies as part of a treaty made after the War of the…
Introduction: James Swift registered his bank in Dublin in 1721 but he was operating in Dublin beforehand, probably as a Goldsmith notory or banker of some description – as can be seen by this ‘sight note’ from Sir Francis Child (a London Goldsmith and banker). Sight note, 14 May 1713, ‘At three days sight pay…
Gibbons & Williams Bank: Gibbons & Williams was one of the last private banks to be founded in Ireland. Founded in 1833, it spectacularly collapsed in 1835 when the senior partner, Hutchins Thomas Williams, was found to have been embezzling client funds. James Gibbons had parted company with him in 1834 and wasn’t involved in…
The Clonmell Bank Riall’s Bank in Clonmel was one of the best run banks of its time. Founded in 1715 as The Clonmell Bank by Phineas Riall and managed by him until 1724, the bank was known as Bagwell & Co between 1724 and 1754. In 1754, William Riall became senior partner and he traded…
The Killarney Bank This ‘bank’ does not appear to have ever been registered and, if the stories about are anything to go by, its lack of official registration is easily explained. The bank was run by one William Murphy – a saddler in the town of Killarney – and his notes were used as small…
The Killarney Bank: This ‘bank’ does not appear to have ever been registered and, if the stories about are anything to go by, its lack of official registration is easily explained. The bank was run by one William Murphy – a saddler in the town of Killarney – and his notes were used as small…
Introduction: The Northumberland Shilling is so called because the Earl of Northumberland as the new Lord Lieutenant of Dublin in 1763 distributed £100 worth of these new coins whilst parading on the streets of Dublin in Ireland. At 20 shillings to the pound, this implies a total issue of 2,000 coins Although appointed in April…
The Killarney Bank This ‘bank’ does not appear to have ever been registered and, if the stories about are anything to go by, its lack of official registration is easily explained. The bank was run by one William Murphy – a saddler in the town of Killarney – and his notes were used as small…
The Killarney Bank: This ‘bank’ does not appear to have ever been registered and, if the stories about are anything to go by, its lack of official registration is easily explained. The bank was run by one William Murphy – a saddler in the town of Killarney – and his notes were used as small…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 