Background: Unlike the pennies of Elizabeth II, British trade & commerce demanded a constant production of halfpennies from 1953 forward. Production increased from approx. 9 million in 1953 to an average of c. 50 million per year by the 1960s. In preparation for decimalisation in 1971, 146 million halfpennies were minted in 1967. All of…
Introduction: GB & Ireland copper pennies (1825-60) are very sought after by collectors. They are often found in attic clearances and car boot sales in Ireland. The comparatively soft metal results in few coins surviving in higher grades. Many varieties exist and the main ones have been listed below. Victorian copper halfpennies have many subtle…
Introduction: GB & Ireland copper halfpennies (1825-60) are very sought after by collectors. They are often found in attic clearances and car boot sales in Ireland. The comparatively soft metal results in few coins surviving in higher grades. Many varieties exist and the main ones have been listed below. Like his brother (George IV), William…
Background: In 1825, in the middle of the reign of King George IV, the long-planned “customs and monetary” union of Great Britain and Ireland was enacted. Prior to this date, no halfpennies were issued in the name of George IV, so his first copper halfpenny incorporated an Irish theme into the design, i.e. there is…
Introduction: The Northumberland Shilling is so called because the Earl of Northumberland as the new Lord Lieutenant of Dublin in 1763 distributed £100 worth of these new coins whilst parading on the streets of Dublin in Ireland. At 20 shillings to the pound, this implies a total issue of 2,000 coins Although appointed in April…
Date: c. 1605-06 Description: James I, second Irish coinage, Sixpence. No date, but the mint mark: Rose denotes the year 1605-06. Struck at the Tower Mint, London. Attractively toned, good fine. Weight: 2.22g Mintmark: Rose (1605/6) Reference: S.6517 Obverse: Crowned (third) bust of James I, facing right The third bust can be quickly identified via the ‘decorated…
Introduction: The British gold sovereign is one of the most ‘collected’ gold coins in Ireland today. We used it when we were part of the UK and it would seem that we are still hoarding them. Named after the English gold sovereign, previously last minted in 1604, the name was revived with the Great Re-coinage…
Date: c. 1065 – 1095 Description: Hiberno-Norse coinage, silver penny, Dublin, Phase V coinage. Obverse: Bearded, helmeted facing-bust Blundered and illegible legend around Reverse: Bird symbols Blundered and illegible legend around. Country: Ireland Category: Hiberno-Norse Phase 5 Hammered Further Reading: O’Brien Coin Guide: Anglo-Saxon Coins & Their Links to Ireland O’Brien Coin Guide: Who Introduced Anglo-Saxon…
Introduction: William IV (b. 21 August 1765, d. 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. He was the third son of George III and he succeeded his elder brother George IV. Like his elder brother,…
Date: c. AD 900 – 1050 Description: Viking Gold Trade Ingot, 10th-11th century AD – a rectangular-section ingot of gold with irregular ends. Weight: 23.47 grams Length: 30mm (approx. 1 inch) Metal content Gold ~ approx. 67-69% Silver ~ approx. 29-31% Copper ~ approx. 2% Country: Ireland + Hiberno-Norse Northumbria Category: Viking Proto-Currency Gold Trading Ingot…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 