James II & his Gunmoney: August 1689 (timeline)
The gunmoney of James II: August 1689 (timeline)
James II & his Gunmoney: June 1689 (timeline)
This was never going to be enough and the answer to James’s financial predicament came from a Protestant – William Bromfield, an English Quaker and one time surgeon who invented the world’s first ‘fiat’ currency based upon a promise to pay at a later date
What Irish banknotes & coins are most popular with collectors?
Please help ! First ever global survey on Irish coins and banknotes ! I am currently doing a post-grad diploma in digital marketing (NFQ, Level 9) research project and need feedback from Irish coin and banknote collectors. This is an academic research project It will not be used for commercial purposes The survey is 100%…
Coin Forgery Alert: Ireland 1937 Halfcrown
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…
Coin Forgery Alert: Ireland 1943 Halfcrown
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…
O’Brien Coin Price Guide 2016: The Irish Coinage of George III
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.…
O’Brien Banknote Price Guide 2016: Ploughman £1 notes
2016 Market Values Last year (2015) saw a vibrant market for Ploughman £1 notes with many new collectors entering an already crowded field. The one pound Ploughman is the most affordable of the Consolidated Banks series and is, therefore the most popular starting point for this most elusive of modern Irish banknotes . Increased demand…
O’Brien Coin Guide: The Irish Fantasy Patterns of Reginald Huth (1900)
Introduction The rather eccentric Mr Reginald Huth is sometimes described as ‘a gentleman of leisure’ but his actual occupation is not known for certain – the Huth family were best known as financiers in the City of London. According to one source, he was ‘the London representative of the Bank of Spain’ though what he actually…
O’Brien Coin Guide: The First Irish Coinage of Edward I (c. 1276)
Introduction: Edward joined the Ninth Crusade to the Holy Land – a crusade which accomplished little and was, effectively, the last of the great crusades. By this time, the so-called crusader spirit had waned considerably and there was little appetite shown by the kings of Europe. It also foreshadowed the imminent collapse of the last remaining crusader strongholds…
Edward IV issues Irish coins of a lower standard (1467)
Introduction: Realising that having an Irish currency equal to English standard weights resulted in a massive drain of silver out of Ireland and, consequently, reducing the amount of coinage in circulation + causing a recession, Edward IV moved towards remedying this by announcing a new (lower intrinsic value) coinage for Ireland in 1467: double-groats (eight…
The Old Currency Exchange is a specialist dealer and valuer of Irish & GB coins, tokens and banknotes 