Date: c. 1649-1672 Description: Richard Greenwood’s penny token is one of my favourite designs from this series because the obverse design is tantalisingly close to that of the so-called St Patrick’s Farthing – first minted in Dublin and then later minted in the American Colonies – both by persons unknown. Two types are known –…
Date: c. 1654 Description: 1654 George Linington’s Penny Token Weight 2.0g Ref: W.145 Almost Very Fine (aVF) Extremely rare Obverse: Centre design: Initials & Date, “P L over G . M.” “1654” below Reverse: Legend: “IN WEX FORD” Further Reading: O’Brien Coin Guide: The Proliferation of Unofficial Irish ‘Farthing Tokens’ in the 17th Century…
Date: c. 1650-80 Description: Edmond Kearney’s Penny Token (Cashel, Co Tipperary) Weight 2.11g Williamson 145 Scarce Obverse: Centre design: A plain cross with a pellet in each quarter. Outer legend: “EDMOND . KEARNEY” Reverse: Centre design: Initials & denomination “D” over “E . K.” over “1” with four small annulets Legend: “CASHELL . MARCT” Additional…
Introduction: Aquilla Smith (28 April 1806 – 23 March 1890) was born in Nenagh, County Tipperary. In 1831 he married his first cousin Esther, daughter of George Faucett, and they had thirteen children. He was a highly regarded medical doctor, numismatist and archaeologist. He represented the Irish College of Physicians on the General Medical Council…
Date: 1642-43 Description: Kilkenny Rebel Money Sixpence; issued by the Catholic Confederacy of Kilkenny from 1642-43 and counter-marked on a silver Sixpence of James I (his Second Coinage, 3rd bust, mm Rose 1605-06) for Ireland, in 1558); one counter-mark struck on the monarch’s bust in the form of a raised “K” on a castle (single…
The end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries was a time of an acute shortage of ‘hard cash’ in Ireland and this was due to the fact that: When Admiral Sir George Rooke, commander of the combined fleet, learned the 1702 treasure had arrived at Vigo Bay in Spain, he resolved to…
The simile “As rich as Damer” has been used for over two hundred years in Ireland, and derives its origin from the richest, meanest, and most unscrupulous Shylock banker that modern times have produced. (The Irish Times, April 26th, 1930). Joseph Damer (c.1630–1720), land agent & wool merchant, turned banker, moneylender and infamous miser, was…
Date: 1679 Description: Thomas Linch’s trade halfpenny Weight 3.61g Williamson 574 Very rare Obverse: Centre design: A winged bull (Crest of the Limerick Butchers’ Company) Outer legend: “THO . LINCH . OF . LIMRICK.” Reverse: Centre design: Harp Legend: HIS . HALF . PENY . TOKEN . 1679. Further Reading: Like Dublin, Limerick had its…
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.…
Date: 1642-43 Description: Kilkenny Rebel Money Shilling; issued by the Catholic Confederacy of Kilkenny from 1642-43 and counter-marked on a base Shilling of Elizabeth I (her first issue of base coinage for Ireland, in 1558); the counter-mark is struck on either side of the monarch’s bust in the form of a raised “K” on a…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 