O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Ten Pence Bank of Ireland Token, counter-marked “Nine Stuivers” in St Bartholomew (St Barts)

Date: c. 1808 Description: Coin and counter-mark fine (F). An extremely rare item but despite being only estimated at £400-500 by DNW; it sold for a healthy GB£ 3,400 + buyer’s premium + tax. This coin would most likely be unfamiliar to the local population and it was stamped to define its value in Dutch…

O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Charles I, Cities of Refuge – Bandon Bridge, Octagonal Farthing

Date: c. 1647 Description: Charles I, Southern Cities of Refuge, Bandon Bridge octagonal farthing (copper) Weight: 2.32g Diameter: 14mm Unrecorded in literature but similar to an ‘undated’ Bandon Bridge farthing References: cf. D&F 316 and SCBC 6560 Overall, about very fine. (aVF) Extremely rare An unrecorded ‘dated’ issue Obverse: Crudely struck emergency coinage with the…

Charles I, Cities of Refuge, Cork, Farthing, corke across field, crown above, crossed palm leaves below, all within beaded border

O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Charles I, Cities of Refuge – Cork, Round Uniface Copper Farthing

Date: c. 1647 Description: Charles I, Southern Cities of Refuge, Cork Round Farthing (copper) Weight: 2.33g References: cf. S 6562B; cf. DF 331-3; cf. SCBI Norweb 6214 About very fine. (aVF) Extremely rare Obverse: Crudely struck emergency coinage with the legend “CORKE” across field, crown above, crossed palm leaves below, all within beaded border Reverse:…

Dublin Money Halfcrown, irregular flan stamped with value within beaded border, 14.24g (S 6543, DF 287). Good fine, very rare

O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Charles I, Dublin money, Halfcrown, V.s within beaded and wire-line borders

Date: c. 1642 Description: Charles I ‘Dublin Money’ Halfcrown, Vs within beaded and wire-line borders. Weight: 14.24g References: S 6543, DF 287 Good fine (gF) Nicely toned A very rare ‘siege’ coin from the Great Rebellion in Ireland Obverse: Irregular octagonal flan cut from plate silver and stamped with a crude die. Denomination within a…

Charles I (1625-1649), Southern Cities of Refuge, Cork, Sixpence, 1647

O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Charles I, Cities of Refuge – Cork, Sixpence, 1647

Date: 1647 Description: Charles I, Cities of Refuge silver sixpence on an octagonal piece of silver plate. Weight: 2.06g References: S 6561A; DF 329 About Fine (F) Extremely rare Obverse: Crudely struck emergency coinage with the legend “CORK” centred between two circles (outer circle beaded, inner circle wired) with a small pellet below (between “O”…

Charles I (1625-1649), Dublin money, Crown, Vs within beaded and wire-line borders, 29.33g (S 6542; DF 286; KM. 54). Small dig on obverse, lightly scratched on reverse, otherwise nearly very fine and toned, very rare

O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Charles I, Dublin money, Crown, V.s within beaded and wire-line borders

Date: c. 1642 Description: Charles I (1625-1649), Dublin money, Crown, Vs within beaded and wire-line borders. Weight: 29.33g References: S 6542; DF 286; KM 54 Small dig on obverse, lightly scratched on reverse, otherwise nearly Very Fine (aVF) Nicely toned A very rare ‘siege’ coin from the Great Rebellion in Ireland Obverse: Irregular octagonal flan…

Charles I (1625-1649), Cork, Shilling, 1647, 4.35g/1h (S 6561; DF 328). Light scratch on reverse, otherwise good fine, extremely rare

O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Charles I, Cities of Refuge – Cork, Shilling, 1647

Date: 1647 Description: Charles I, Cities of Refuge Shilling on an octagonal piece of silver plate. Weight: 4.35g References: S 6561; DF 328 Light scratch on reverse, otherwise good Fine (gF) Extremely rare Obverse: Crudely struck emergency coinage with the legend “CORK” centred between two circles (outer circle beaded, inner circle wired) with a small…

An Irish Halfpenny of Edward III (Dublin Mint)

O’Brien Coin Guide: The Unknown Irish Penny of Edward III

Introduction: In numismatic terms ‘unknown’ means that none have been found – therefore asking the question “did they ever exist?” There are many instances where we know of a king commanding that coinage be produced but none have been found. Ironically, when ‘one’ is found, we begin to ask another set of questions: Is it…

O’Brien Rare Coin Review: Does an Irish (small) 1991 5p coin exist?

The Irish five pence coin, first introduced in 1971, was 5.65518 grams in weight with a diameter of 2.3595 centimetres. This matched the British five pence coin. As a modern coin it became apparent in the late 1980s that the coin’s physical dimensions were large relative to its value. On 30th April, 1992, Minister for Finance…