Medieval banking had to overcome the dangers of the Usury Laws and the Italians did so by organising themselves into merchant banking societies, rather than acting as individual traders.

The Great Monetary Crisis of 13th C Europe and its effect on the Norman Colony in Ireland

Introduction: Medieval history is often taught as a power struggle between nobles fighting for control of their inherited lands via a series of military campaigns, often ending in a decisive battle that has been portrayed within a 19th century ‘nationalist’ mindset. My own education, from what I can remember of primary school and the old…

Ireland. Henry III (1216-1272) AR Penny. Dublin, c. 1251-1254. Һ(ЄNR)I CVS R ЄX III, crowned facing bust, holding sceptre; cinquefoil to right; all within triangle / RIC (AR)D O(N D) IVЄ, voided long cross, with trefoil in each angle. SCBI 10, Belfast 438-64; S 6236. 1.41g, 18mm, 4h.

Irish Coin Daily: Henry III Silver Penny, Class 1a (Moneyer: Ricard of Dublin)

Date: c. 1251-1254 Description: Henry III silver penny, Dublin mint, Class 1a Weight: 1.41g Diameter: 18mm Very Fine (VF) References: S.6235, SCBI 10, Belfast Plate IX, 428-429. Obverse: Crowned facing bust, holding sceptre; cinquefoil to right; all within a double triangle Legend: (ЄNR)I CVS R ЄX III Translates as: Richard III, King Reverse: Voided long cross,…

Ireland. John as lord of Ireland (1177-1199), AR Half-penny. Dublin, c. 1190-1198. +IOHANNES DO, facing diademed head / +TOMAS…VVE, voided cross potent. SCBI 10, Belfast, 231-74; S 6205. 0.71g, 14mm, 6h.

Irish Coin Daily: Prince John’s Silver Halfpenny (Second Coinage, Dublin Mint / Tomas)

Date: c. 1190-1199 Description: Ireland. John as Lord of Ireland (1177-1199), silver halfpenny. Halfpenny, second coinage (1190-99), Dublin mint, c. 1190-1199. SCBI 10, Belfast, 231-74; S 6205. 0.71g, 14mm, 6h. Very Fine (VF) Obverse: Facing diademed head, legend around +IOHANNES DO Translates as “John Dominus” Reverse: Voided cross potent, legend around +TOMAS…VVE Translates as “Tomas of…

King John Irish farthing, Dublin mint

Collecting medieval Irish coins

One of the more difficult aspects of coin collecting is the language barrier one encounters when trying to decipher the legends (text around the edges) of coins. Very few of us speak Latin and truncated Latin still appears on British coins today. As we all know, British coins circulated alongside Irish coins in this country…