Date: c. 1642 Description: Charles I ‘Dublin Money’ Halfcrown, Vs within beaded and wire-line borders. Weight: 14.24g References: S 6543, DF 287 Good fine (gF) Nicely toned A very rare ‘siege’ coin from the Great Rebellion in Ireland Obverse: Irregular octagonal flan cut from plate silver and stamped with a crude die. Denomination within a…
Date: 1642 Description: Inchiquin Money, First issue, Halfcrown, irregular flan stamped 9dwt: 16gr within beaded and wire-line borders. Type 1: Wire & Bead borders (double circle) Weight: 14.31 g Better than Very Fine (gVF) Toned Very rare References: Bull 1; S 6533; DF 277a; KM. 40 Obverse: An irregular flan stamped 9dwt: 16gr within…
Date: 1927 Description: Country: Ireland Category: Irish Free State / Saorstát Éireann Pattern Notes: This is a ‘pattern’ coin entered by the Roman sculptor Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963) for the competition to design Ireland’s new money in 1928. Although unsuccessful, Morbiducci’s designs are considered to be some of the finest in terms of their classical Italianate…
The introduction of the new ‘gunmoney’ sixpence in June was a qualified success for deposed King James II and he quickly moved to cash in even more when he ordered the issue of shillings and halfcrowns for July. The coin presses in Capel Street were in production 24 hours a day, with mint workers employed…
Caveat emptor According to a recent report by the Numismatic Society of Ireland, several examples of this scarce (key date) halfcrown have appeared on the market, so buyers need to be extra vigilant when offered what may look like a bargain from an unusual source. Needless to say, an eBay seller “with little of no…
Caveat emptor Coin forgers have been with us for over a thousand years but this crime is no longer punishable in the medieval way, e.g. in the “Purge of the Moneyers” by Henry I at Christmas 1124, all of the English moneyers were summoned to Winchester, where most of them were castrated and had the…
2018 Market Values Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann) US Grades G VF 20 XF40 AU50 MS61 YEAR Mintage Good Fine Very Fine Ex. Fine Uncirculated 1928 2,160,000 b.v. b.v. €10.00 €25.00 €45.00 Proof €75.00 1930 352,000 b.v. €5.00 €25.00 €150.00 €300.00 1931 160,000 b.v. €7.00…
Introduction In the older literature, these coins are referred to as ‘Kilkenny Money’ but are now, more properly referred to as ‘Confederated Catholic Coinage’ or ‘Rebel Money.’ There are two opinions re who actually these enigmatic coins – one thinks they might have been minted by the Catholic Confederacy in Kilkenny from as early as September 1642…
Introduction When James II succeeded his father in 1685, he continued to issue copper halfpennies, albeit via a ‘patent’ like his father did before him. This maintained the flow of small change but the same ‘decades old’ problem persisted with the large proportion of under-weight ‘clipped’ silver in circulation. This might have sufficed for transactions…
Introduction The 1642 ‘Lords Justices’ issues were followed in 1643 by a larger (fourth) emergency issue of better made, but still crude, silver coins. These are collectively known as ‘Ormonde Money’ since they were issued by the Lord Justice, the Earl of Ormonde (James Butler) some time between 1643-1644. Ormonde’s active career began in Ireland had begun…
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