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 Pennies: Victoria became Queen…
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. George IV Prior to ascension, George…
Date: c. 1475-78 Description: Edward IV (Second reign), Silver Groat, Light Cross & Pellets (annulets) coinage. (24.5mm, 1.93 g, 10h). Limerick mint. Struck 1475-1478. SCBI 22 (Copenhagen), 400; D&F 133; SCBC 6342. Toned, minor edge chip and flan crack Near VF (aVF) Rare Obverse: Crowned facing bust, L on breast; quatrefoils flanking neck; all within…
Date: c. 1478 Description: Edward IV (Second reign) silver penny (12.5mm, 0.54 g) Small Cross on Rose/Radiant Sun coinage. Dublin mint. Struck c. 1478. SCBI –; D&F 113; SCBC 6289. Deeply toned, clipped, creased, with associated surface crack Near VF (aVF) Extremely rare type Obverse: Rose with small cross pattée at centre Reverse: Sun with…
Date: 1540 Description: Ireland, Henry VIII (1509-47), Groat, first harp issue, with Katherine Howard (1540), 1.96g, m.m. crown, crowned coat-of-arms, rev. crowned harp between royal cypher h k (S.6474) Good Fine (GF) Country: Ireland Category: Anglo-Norman House of Tudor Henry VIII Katherine Howard Hammered Additional Information: Katherine Howard (c. 1523 – 13 February 1542) Queen of…
Date: c. 1540-2 Description: Ireland, Henry VIII (1509-47), Groat, second harp issue, King alone (1540-2), 2.51g, m.m. trefoil, crowned coat-of-arms, rev. crowned harp between royal cypher h r (S.6479), near very fine. Almost Very Fine (aVF) Country: Ireland Category: Anglo-Norman House of Tudor Henry VIII Hammered
Early Irish Proto-Banknotes The origins of Irish banking can be traced back as far as the 17th C in Dublin where the Dublin Guild of Goldsmiths (now the only surviving medieval guild in Dublin) issued receipts for deposits of coins. Initially the currency notes took the form of receipts issued by goldsmiths, coin exchangers and…
Introduction: The GB & Ireland “Edward VII” pennies are an easy series to collect as there is only one major variety (the 1902 low tide) and that too is not exactly scarce. As with all of the earlier GB & Ireland bronzes, the highest grades command a significant premium and the coins in the lower…
Date: 1198-1199 Description: Country: Ireland Category: Anglo-Norman House of Anjou Angevin Richard I (the Lion Heart) John as Lord of Ireland Third Coinage (Dominus / Cross Pommée Issue) Dublin Mint Moneyer: Tomas Hammered Further Reading: O’Brien Coin Guide: Why did Henry II not issue coins under his own name for Ireland? O’Brien Rare Coin Review:…
Introduction: The price of gold rose from the 1430s onward, so gold coins were worth more in Europe than in England, which resulted in a gold shortage in England as coins were exported for profit. This is known as an ‘arbitrage market’ and is also an early example of Gresham’s Law – it caused a…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 