Background: By the 1950s, the farthing had pretty much lost its spending power and there were calls for its withdrawal. An average of 20 million farthings per year were produced during the reign of George VI but inflation made these coins virtually obsolete during Elizabeth’s early reign. The Royal Mint stopped producing them in 1956…
Background Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III. Both the Duke of Kent and King George III died in 1820. She inherited the British throne at the age of 18, after her father’s three elder brothers had all died, leaving no surviving legitimate…
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…
A quarter-farthing was issued for use only in Ceylon between 1839 and 1853, and was never legal tender in the UK & Ireland. However, they are usually considered to be part of the UK coin series, as Ceylon used British currency at that time.
Date: c. 1190-1199 Description: John, as Lord. 1190-1199. Silver Farthing (0.35 gm). Second coinage. Dublin mint. Seaby 6220; D&F 41. Particularly fine style obverse. Very Fine (VF) Deeply toned Very rare. Obverse: Mascle with trefoils at corners Reverse: ADAM counter-clockwise around cross. The D not retrograde, as on most other known specimens Country: Ireland Category: Anglo-Norman…
Date: c. 1190-1199 Description: John (as Lord of Ireland), Silver Farthing (10mm, 0.27 g). Second (‘DOMinus’) coinage, Group II, cross pommée. Waterford mint; Gefrei, moneyer. Struck circa 1198-1199. Withers VI p. 31; O’S, Earliest 4; SCBI 10 (Ulster), pl. XVI, 11 var. (arrangement of rev. legend); D&F 41; SCBC 6222. Near Very Fine (aVF) Toned,…
Date: c. 1195 Description: John De Courcy, Lord of Ulster (1177-1205), Farthing, anonymous issue, Downpatrick Mint, 0.36g (Withers Downpatrick 1; D.F. 47; S.6225). Very Fine (VF) Toned, nicely preserved specimen for type Extremely Rare Obverse: Processional cross within beaded circle +PATRICII Reverse: Short cross potent with crescents in angles, within beaded circle +DE DVNO Country:…
Introduction After Edward III, there was a gap in Irish coin production of over 120 years. What caused this? Was it an economic or political decision, or a combination of several different causal factors? Did the causal factors occur before and/or during the reign of Edward III ??? No coins would be minted in Ireland for…
2016 Market Values The coinage of George II is reasonably easy to find in the lower grades but a substantial premium is paid for higher grade coins – which are not easy to obtain. Last year, we saw steep price increases at auction for proofs and regular issues in Extremely Fine (EF) and Uncirculated grades.…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 