This page is a perpetual “work-in-progress” and will be updated daily via daily Irish Coin Cabinet posts. In time, it will become a “check-list” for Irish coin collectors, detectorists and anyone looking for basic information + an image on individual Irish “hammered” coins and their major die variations.

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Proto-Currency

• Late Medieval (common to Ireland, England and Scandinavia)
  • Viking Silver Trade Ingot (Hammered)
  • Viking Silver Trade Ingot (Cast)
  • Viking Gold Trade Ingot

Hiberno-Norse Kingdom of Northumbria

• Sihtric II Caech c. 921-927
  • St. Peter silver penny (Sword/Hammer type) struck under Sihtric II Caech (York Mint)
  • St Peter silver penny (Sword/Hammer type) struck for Sihtric Caech (Lincoln Mint, Southumbria / Moneyer: Unknown)

Sitric Cáech died in AD 927 and was succeeded by Gofraid ua Ímair as king of York but Gofraid was expelled in the same year by king Æthelstan of England and he retreated back to Dublin. In 934, Gofraid ua Ímair died and was succeeded by his son, Anlaf Guthfrithsson. In 939, following the death of Aethelstan, the Vikings under Anlaf Guthfrithsson (a son of Gofraid ua Ímair), re-occupied York.

• Anlaf Guthfrithsson c. 939-941
  • Silver penny (Raven type) York Mint / Moneyer: Ethelferd
  • Silver penny (Raven type) Lincoln Mint / Moneyer: Litelman (unique)
    • Anlaf Guthfrithsson was also King of Dublin (934-941)
      • He did not issue coins in his own name in Dublin

• Anlaf Sithtricsson Cuarán (first reign) c. 941-944/5
  • Silver penny (Triquetra type) York Mint / Moneyer: Farmann
  • Silver penny (Triquetra type) York Mint / Moneyer: Ranan (unique)
  • Silver penny (Cross Moline type) York Mint / Moneyer: Rathulf
    • Anlaf Sithtricsson was also King of Dublin (945-947)
      • He did not issue coins in his own name in Dublin
• Ragnald Guthfrithsson c. 943-944/5
  • Silver penny (Triquetra type) York Mint / Moneyer: Branting
  • Silver penny (Cross Moline type) York Mint / Moneyer: Avra

The Anglo-Saxons briefly recovered York from 945-9.

• Anlaf Sithtricsson Cuarán (second reign) c. 950-952
  • Silver penny (Circumscription Cross type) York Mint / Moneyer: Rathulf
  • Silver penny (Circumscription Cross type + trefoil of pellets) York Mint / Moneyer: Rathulf
    • Anlaf Sithtricsson was also King of Dublin (952-980)
      
      • He did not issue coins in Dublin during his second reign there
      • His son, Sihtric Anlafsson, did issue coins from AD 995 to c. 1035 (Phase I & II)

Hiberno-Norse Kingdom of York

• Anlaf Guthfrithsson c. 939-941
  • Silver penny (Flower type) York mint / Moneyer: Ingelgar
    • Anlaf Guthfrithsson was also King of Dublin (934-941)

Hiberno-Norse Kingdom of Dublin

• Phase I (c. 995-1015)
  

• Contemporary Copies of English Anglo-Saxon Pennies in the name of Sihtric
  
  • Class A – Crux issue (King Aethelred II)
    • Dublin Mint
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: ARCETEL (or ASCETEL)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: EOLE
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: FASTOLF
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: LIOELF (or LIOGOLF)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: REOLECE
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: WULFGAR (or WULFIG)
    • Dublin Mint
      • in the name of ‘Aethelred‘ / Moneyer: Fastolf of Dublin
        • English Mint(s) & Moneyer(s)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: ARTHOR (of York)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: EADRIC / EADRIL (of York)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: SIGERIC of Watchet
  • Class B – Long Cross issue (King Aethelred II)
    • Dublin Mint
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: CAR
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: EDRIC
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: EIOMNS
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GODRIC
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: SIULF
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: STENG
    • Dublin Mint
      • in the name of ‘Aethelred II of England’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
    • Dublin Mint
      • in the name of ‘Thymn’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
    • Dublin Mint
      • in the name of ‘Ogsen’ / Moneyer: ?
    • Mint Uncertain
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: COLBRAND
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: HEREUC
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: LEIFSTEIN / LEIFSTEM
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: SMIRIN
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: STIRCAR
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: WULFRIC
    • Mint Uncertain
      • in the name of ‘Thymn’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
      • in the name of ‘Thymn’ / Moneyer: ODULF or AUTHULFR (?)
    • Mint Uncertain
      • in the name of ‘Ogsen’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN / FEINE ?
    • English Mint(s) & Moneyer(s)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: AEILRINE (of London?)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: BEORHTNOTH (of Winchester?)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: BIRHTIOTH (of Winchester)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: BYRHTIOD (of Winchester)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: BYRHTMAER (of Winchester) – Old Norse CUNUNC
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: COLGRIM (of Lincoln?)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: EMIRNIE (of London)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GIOTHMAN (of London)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GODLEOW (of Stanford)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GODWINE / GIOMDINE / GIODWINE (of Derby?)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GODWINE (of Wilton)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GODWINE (of Winchester) – Old Norse CUNUNC
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: LIEFTHOTH (of Otford)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: LYFING (of London)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: OSGOT (of Derby)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: OSGUN (of Lincoln)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: SCOT (of Stamford?)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: STEORGER (of York?)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: UNULF (of York)
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: WULFWINE (of Oxford)
  • Class C – Helmet issue (King Aethelred II) 
    • Dublin Mint 
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: CAR
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: EIOMNS
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GAR
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GODRIC
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: SIULF
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: Unknown
      • in the name of ‘Aethelred’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
        • English Mint(s) & Moneyer(s)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: KOLGRIMR (of York)
          • in the name of ‘Aethelred’ / Moneyer: GUNLEOF (of Chester)
  • Class D – Small Cross issue (King Aethelred II)
    • Dublin Mint
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: AEFELN
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: COLBRAND
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: IIDREMIN
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: NDERNIN
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: RINGULF
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: Unknown 
        • Mint Uncertain
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: COLBRAND
        • English Mint(s) & Moneyer(s)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: ANRTHORR (of York)
            
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: BYRHTIOTH (of Winchester)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: DGDOAN (of London)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GODERIC (of Stanford)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: LEOFWINE (of Chester)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: OSGOT (of Derby)
          • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: WULSIGE (of Chester)
        • Mint & Moneyer Uncertain
          • A very crude copy / ‘contemporary forgery’ ???
  • Class E – Quatrefoil issue (King Cnut)
    • Dublin Mint
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
      • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: STENG (STEGEN)
      • in the name of ‘Cnut’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
  • Class F – Pointed Helmet issue (King Cnut)
    • Dublin Mint 
      • in the name of ‘Anlaf Sihtricsson’ / Moneyer: ADA

• Phase II (c. 1015-1035)

• Long Cross & Pellets
  • Weights vary from 1.5g down to 1.3g (later in the series)
  • Sihtric breaks with copying the design of contemporary English issues and, instead, reverts to a Long Cross & Pellets reverse design – in the name of Sihtric, King of Dublin. The Long Cross reverse became the archetypal form for Hiberno-Norse coinage at this period.
    • Blackburn described Phase II coins as ‘a coinage of national identity’ suggesting that its production represented a substantial coin reform.
      
  • Dublin Mint
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: CARM
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
      • variety: One pellet in front of bust + wishbone device / ornament on neck
      • variety: Two pellets in front of bust
      • variety: One pellet behind bust
      • variety: Two pellets behind bust
      • variety: Three pellets on neck (one in each corner)
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: GODRIC
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: NDREMIN
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: NIRRIN (inverted crozier behind head)
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: SIULT
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: STENG (STEGN)
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / Moneyer: STYRBERN
  • Dublin Mint
    • unattributed / Moneyer: Faeremin of Dublin (blundered)
      • variety: cross pattée in front of bust + 3 pellets behind (die link to Hiberno-Manx)
  • Mint: Uncertain
    • / Moneyer: FAEREMIN
    • / Moneyer: NERRNII
  • Mint & Moneyer: Uncertain
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / + FII PEII HHO AFN (inverted crozier behind head)
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / + IFI RNE NNO NHO
    • in the name of ‘Sihtric’ / + NINIC ONN NIN (inverted crozier behind head)

Echmarcach mac Ragnaill (King of the Isles) forced Sihtric to abdicate in 1036.

---

Who minted coins after Sihtric left Dublin? 

Echmarcach mac Ragnaill / Ímar mac Arailt / Murchad mac Diarmata ???

• Phase III (c.1035-1060)

• Long Cross & Hands Issues (Blundered Legends)
  
  • ? Mint (Presumably, Dublin)
    • Weights vary from 1.04g down to 0.78g (later in the series)
      • Phase III is a continuation of Sihtric’s Phase II but the legends rapidly descend into complete illiteracy. This contrasts sharply with contemporary Anglo-Saxon issues across the Irish Sea.
      • Phase III is, nonetheless, a uniquely Irish coinage – embellished with a variety of symbols.
  • Class A – Plain Bust
    • Type 1 – Long Cross with two hands
      • a) Long Cross with two hands
      • b) Long Cross with two hands (with pellet / thumbs)
      • c) Long Cross with two hands + one pellet
      • d) Long Cross with two hands + two large pellets
      • e) Long Cross with two hands + one large pellet
      • f)  Long Cross with two hands + one large pellet + one small pellet
      • g) Long Cross with two hands + quatrefoil
      • h) Long Cross with two hands + cross pommée
    • Type 2 – Long Cross with one hand
      • a) Long Cross with one hand
  • Class B – Bust with Hand before Face
    • Type 1 – Long Cross, with one hand
      • a) Long Cross, with one hand
      • b) Long Cross, with one hand (stigmata type) + one pellet opposite
    • Type 2 – Long Cross, with two hands
      • a) Long Cross, with two hands
  • Class C – Bust with Hand on Neck
    • Type 1 – Long Cross with one hand
      • a) Hand on Neck, Long Cross with one hand
    • Type 2 – Long Cross with two hands
      • a) Hand on Neck, Long Cross with two hands
      • b) Hand on Neck, Long Cross with two hands + two pellets
  • Class D – Bust with Hand behind Head
    • Type 1 – Hand behind Head
      • a) Hand behind Head, Long Cross with two hands
  • Class E – Bust with Symbol(s)
    • Type 1 – Symbol before Face
      • a) Pellet before Face. Long Cross with two hands + one pellet
      • b) Pellet within Annulet before Face. Long Cross with two hands
      • c) Two pellets in front of face. Long Cross with two hands
    • Type 2 – Symbol on Neck
      • a) Cross Pattée on Neck, Long Cross with two hands
      • b) Quatrefoil on Neck, Long Cross with one hand, one pellet and ‘S’
      • c) Quatrefoil on Neck, Long Cross with one hand, two pellets and ‘S’
      • d) Quatrefoil on Neck, Long Cross with two hands
      • e) Pellet on Neck, Long Cross with two hands
      • f)  Pellet on Neck, Long Cross with two hands + one annulet
      • g) Pellet on Neck, Long Cross with three pellets and one hand (stigmata type)
      • h) Annulet on Neck, Long Cross with two hands + two pellets
    • Type 3 – Symbol behind Head
      • a) One Pellet behind Head, Long Cross with two hands
      • b) One Pellet behind Head, Long Cross with two hands + one pellet
      • c) Two Pellets behind Head, Long Cross, with two hands
      • d) Three Pellets behind Head, Long Cross, with two hands
    • Type 4 – Symbols before Face & behind Head
      • a) One pellet in front of face, plus one pellet behind. Long Cross with two hands
      • b) Two pellets in front of face, plus two small pellets behind. Long Cross with two hands
        
      • c) Two pellets in front of face, plus small cross pattée behind. Long Cross with two hands
      • d) Quatrefoil in front of face, plus two pellets behind head. Long Cross with two hands
    • Type 5 – Symbols on Neck & behind Head
      • a) Pellet on Neck, plus three pellets behind Head, Long Cross with three pellets and one hand (stigmata type)
    • Type 6 – Symbols in front of Face & on Neck & behind Head
      • a) Two pellets in front of face, plus quatrefoil + single pellet behind, plus three pellets on neck. Long Cross with quatrefoil, three pellets, hand + pellet and hand symbol
    • Type 7 – Symbols above Head
      • a) One large pellet above head. Long Cross with two hands

• Phase IV (1060-65)
  

Who minted the Hiberno-Norse Phase IV coins?            Murchad mac Diarmata ?

• Scratched Die Issues
  • ? Mint (Presumably, Dublin)
    • Reverse dies seem to have part-punched / part-engraved
    • Dolley’s seven phase model of Hiberno-Norse coinages has stood up to scientific scrutiny from the 1960s up until very recently. Numismatic researchers are now beginning to question his dates (and, to a lesser extent, his categories) from his Phase IV forward.
      • Should they now be ‘grouped’ according to symbolism or should they be put in chronological order?
  • Class A – Bust left / Long cross type
    • Type 1 – Bust left, pellets around. Long Cross, with two pellets / hand symbol / trefoil of pellets / X + two pellets
    • Type 2 – Bust left, two pellets in front, trefoil on neck, pellet + quatrefoil behind. Long Cross, with two pellets / hand symbol / X + two pellets / two pellets
    • Type 3 – Bust left. Long Cross, with quatrefoil and hand symbol
  • Class B – Bust right / Long Cross type
  • Class C – Facing bust / Long Cross type
    • Likely modelled upon the type of Edward the Confessor

• Phase V (c. 1065-1100)
  

Who minted the Hiberno-Norse Phase IV coins?            ???

• Crude Imitative Issues
  
  • ? Mint (Presumably, Dublin)
    • Mostly poor imitations of late Anglo-Saxon, Norman and North European issues. There is no clear order, i.e. they can be organised into groups by symbol type, or in chronological order following the sequence of their English counterparts.
    • Phase V of Dolley’s classification has been considered “a bit of a dumping ground” by one leading Irish numismatic expert and, recently, several doctoral candidates studied this series in greater detail and are beginning to re-think Dolley’s Phase V.
      • The ‘big question’ is: How quickly did the Hiberno-Norse copy the Anglo-Saxon, Norman and other European coins they seem to imitate, i.e. how closely do they follow their date ranges, or should we be looking at them in a different way?
  • Class A (18 variations) c. 1065-75
    • Long Cross with sickles and related types
      • Imitation of the ‘Pax’ type of Harold II (1066)
  • Class B (10 variations) c.1075-80
    • Imitation of 1070s Anglo-Norman Types
      • Draped bust left, with hand on Neck + reverse similar to William I “Two Stars type”
      • Draped bust left, with large cross pattée on neck
      • Draped bust left, with quatrefoil before & short cross on reverse
      • Draped bust left, with quatrefoil before & trefoil on neck. Short cross on reverse
      • Crude bust right, with Cross crosslet + pellets in angles
      • Crude bust right, Cross pommée behind; reverse: cross within inner circle
      • Crowned facing bust, sceptre either side, deriving from Two Sceptres type of William I; reverse: cross fleury, pellets in angles
      • Four croziers forming cross in saltire, with annulet at centre
      • Degraded facing crowned bust with large annulets at sides, derived from Two Stars type of William I, or Annulets type of Henry I
      • Inner circle, four paired croziers; reverse: inner circle with cross derived from profile right types of William I and William II
  • Class C (8 variations) c.1080-85 (or a little later?)
    • Bird and Associated types
      • Facing bust + birds type
    • Mule(s):
      • Crude bust left, trefoil of pellets to left (S.6139) + Three birds around central pellet (S.6169
  • Class D (13 variations) c. 1085-90 (or a little later?)
    • Paxs Imitations, derivatives and related types
  • Class E (8 variations) c. 1090-95
    • Small Flan
      • Crude bust right, derivative of Edward the Confessor small flan type
  • Class F (8 variations) c. 1095-1100
    • Stylised facing and profile busts
      • Type 1: Facing Bust + symbols type
      • Type 2: Bust right
      • Type 7: Bust left
      • Type 8: Degraded facing bust + Expanding cross

• Phase VI (c. 1100-1130)
  

• Very Late Degraded Long Cross Imitations
  • ? Mint (Presumably, Dublin)
    • At the turn of the twelfth century, all five Hiberno-Norse settlements (Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Cork and Limerick) had grown into large towns and their populations were well integrated into Irish society, geo-politics, trade and commerce. That said, their coins were lightweight and very thin.
      • Archaeologists question how useful they would have been for external trade. 
• Class A – Bust Left
  • Type 1a: Crude draped bust left / Voided long cross, with annulet at centre
  • Type 1b: Crude draped bust left / Voided long cross; pellets and sceptres in opposite quarters
  • Type 1c: Crude draped bust left / Voided long cross, pellet within annulet; pellets & sceptres in opposite quarters
• Class B – Bust Right
  • Type 2a: Crude draped bust right / Voided long cross; pellets and scepters in opposite quarters

• Phase VII (c. 1130-1150)
  

• Semi Bracteates and Bracteates
  • ? Mint (Presumably, Dublin)
    • Towards the middle of the 12th C, Hiberno-Norse coinage had degraded to the point where the designs were ‘ghosting’ onto the other side (semi-bracteates).
    • Eventually, they only struck one side and the reverse image shows on the other side – similar to the way a more modern ‘brockage’ error would. The effect is not as apparent due to the lack of lettering on these coins.
• Class A – Semi-Bracteates (double sided / designs + ‘ghosted’ on either side)
  • Crude bust left / Voided long cross, with sceptres in angles
  • Crude bust left / Long cross & quatrefoil (Scrabo Type)
  • Crude bust left / Plain cross & cross botonée
  • Crude bust left, trefoil before / Voided cross botonée
  • ? Mint (Presumably, Dublin)
• Class B – True Bracteates (coins struck on one side only)
  • Voided Cross & Sceptres
    
  • Voided Cross, with Pellets & Sceptres
  • Plain Cross & Quatrefoil
  • Plain Cross, with various Symbols in angles
  • Voided Cross, with various Symbols in angles
  • Cross Pommée, within Quatrefoil
  • Cross, with Trefoils & Quatrefoils (alternating in angles)
  • Cross, with Lis in each angle
  • Cross Potent, with annulets in angles
  • Hammer Cross over Quatrefoil
  • Short Cross Pommée over Long Cross
  • Small Cross Pattée in inner circle, alternating Sceptres & I’s around
  • Cross Pattée, Pellet in each angle
  • Small Cross Pommée in inner circle
  • Cross Fleury in inner circle, annulets alternating with Crescents & Pellets in angles
  • Double Cross Pommée, with Fleury Sceptres in angles
  • Double Cross Pommée, over Hammer Cross
  • Cross over Quatrefoil, with Pellets in each angle
  • Cross Fleury over Long Cross
  • Long Cross, with ‘formalized’ head in each angle
  • Long Cross, with alternating ‘formalized’ head & crosses in angles

Scandinavian Imitations of Hiberno-Norse Coinage

• Contemporary Copies of Hiberno-Norse, Phase I Pennies
  • Scandinavian Imitation of a Phase I, Long Cross Penny – Sihtric / Mint Uncertain, c. 1000-1010
  • Scandinavian Imitation of a Phase I, Long Cross Penny – Harthacnut / Lund Mint, c. 1040-1046

Hiberno-Manx Imitations of Hiberno-Norse Coinage

• Contemporary Copies of Hiberno-Norse, Phase II Pennies
  • Cross on neck + cross of 4 pellets behind / Faeremin of Dublin (blundered)

Late Medieval Gaelic Regnal Coinage ???

• Contemporary Copies of Late Anglo-Saxon / Hiberno-Norse Coinage