Date: c. 1251-1254 Description: Henry III silver penny, Dublin mint, Class 1b Weight: 1.39g Diameter: 18mm Very Fine (VF) References: S.6236, DF 54 Obverse: Crowned facing bust, holding sceptre; cinquefoil to right; all within a single triangle Legend: (ЄNR)I CVS R ЄX III Translates as: Richard III, King Reverse: Voided long cross, with trefoil in…
Introduction: William IV re-introduced the groat as a coin for circulation in British Guiana but, towards the end of his short reign, it was proposed for general circulation in the UK by MP Joseph Hume – hence its nickname “the Joey” His reasoning was that the coin was convenient for paying cab fares. The coin…
Date: c. 1065 – 1095 Description: Hiberno-Norse coinage, silver penny, Phase V coinage – Crude bust right, derivative of Edward the Confessor small flan type. Toned good very fine (gVF) Extremely RARE Obverse: Crude bust right, derivative of Edward the Confessor Blundered and illegible legend around Reverse: Bow cross, large pellets in angles Blundered and illegible…
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,…
Background: By 1947, towards the end of George VI’s reign, silver British coinage was no more. Silver was just too valuable a commodity to waste on coinage and, with the break up of the British Empire now inevitable, there as no need to ‘pretend’ British sterling was the world’s foremost currency. Many other currencies were…
Background: George VI’s reign included the economically disastrous Word War II which culminated in his overseeing the dismantling of the British Empire to the point where it had to be transformed into a weaker / less cohesive British Commonwealth. The biggest loss was the independence and breakup of India into three nation states – India,…
Background: Victoria, at that time, was the longest serving British monarch in history, so her son Edward was an old man by the time he succeeded her. Not a lot happened in terms of numismatic innovation during his short reign but it is, perhaps, worth mentioning that James Joyce had a few things to say…
Background William IV was the third son of George III, William succeeded his elder brother George IV, as the last king and penultimate monarch of Britain’s House of Hanover. Since his two older brothers died without leaving legitimate issue, he inherited the throne when he was 64 years old. King of the United Kingdom King…
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. From a numismatic viewpoint, the farthings of 1826 changed design – from “draped bust laureat” to The Irish pound was thence tied to sterling and almost “free trade” conditions…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 