Date: c. 950 – 1050 AD Description: A ‘hammered’ Viking Silver Trade Ingot, 10th-11th century AD – a rectangular-section ingot of silver with irregular ends. This ingot has been ‘worked’ into its current shape / dimensions via hammering on an anvil, i.e. flattened, elongated profile. Weight: 11 grams Length: 70mm (approx. 2.75 inches) Country: Ireland Category:…
Date: c. 1195 Description: John De Courcy, Lord of Ulster (1177-1205), Farthing, anonymous issue, Downpatrick Mint, 0.36g (Withers Downpatrick 1; D.F. 47; S.6225). Very Fine (VF) Toned, nicely preserved specimen for type Extremely Rare Obverse: Processional cross within beaded circle +PATRICII Reverse: Short cross potent with crescents in angles, within beaded circle +DE DVNO Country:…
Date: c. 1605-06 Description: James I, 2nd Coinage. Irish Shilling, no date, but the mint mark: Rose denotes the year 1605-06. Struck at the Tower Mint, London. Weight: 4.35 grams. . Fine to Very Fine (F / VF) References: S.6515 / DF 261 Obverse: Crowned (third) bust of James I, facing right. The third bust can be…
Introduction After Edward III, there was a gap in Irish coin production of over 120 years. What caused this? Was it an economic or political decision, or a combination of several different causal factors? Did the causal factors occur before and/or during the reign of Edward III ??? No coins would be minted in Ireland for…
Introduction On 23rd October 1680, letters patent were granted to Sir Thomas Armstrong and Colonel George Legge) to manufacture copper halfpennies for use in Ireland for a period of 21 years. They were to be dated 1680, 1681, 1682, 1683, 1684 and 1685 but, since Charles II died in 1684, no coins dated 1685 have…
Although Armstrong & Legge’s patent to produce copper halfpennies for use in Ireland was confirmed by James II, these coins were actually minted by Sir John Knox, the Lord Mayor of Dublin. On the 17th June 1685, they transferred this patent by deed of appointment to Sir John Knox for the remainder of the time…
By the first half of the 17th C, the copper coinage in both Britain and Ireland was in complete disarray. Neither James I nor his son, Charles I, took much interest in providing small denominations and ‘farmed out’ the Royal prerogative of minting copper coins to ‘favourite’ courtiers as patentees – Lords Harington, Richmond, Lennox and Maltravers were the principal…
Most of the coins listed below were struck as ‘proofs’ – the exception being the first of the series, the €5 Special Olympics coin. This was a cupro-nickel coin and is available as BU mini-presentation folder. In addition to this, all other coins were struck in either Sterling silver or gold and are issued in…
The Irish 50 cent euro coin (€0.50) has a value of one half of a euro and is composed of an alloy called Nordic gold. Value 0.50 euro Mass 7.80 g Diameter 24.25 mm Thickness 2.38 mm Edge Regular, fine indentations Composition Nordic gold Nordic gold is the gold-coloured copper alloy from which the middle three denominations of euro…
The 20 cent euro coin (€0.20) has a value of one fifth of a euro and are composed of an alloy called nordic gold in the Spanish flower shape. a type of coin flan shape, consisting of a smooth edge separated into equal sections by seven indents the ECB explained that the the Spanish flower…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 