Medieval Hammered Farthings

Prince John as Lord of Ireland - Hammered Farthings

John as Lord of Ireland (1177-1216)

John 'Lackland,' the youngest son of Henry II, was born in 1166. In 1177, while John was only 11 years old, his father made him Lord of Ireland. John was the first to order coins to be produced in Ireland of the same weight and fineness as those of England.

These Anglo-Irish farthings have a MASCLE on one side and 4 letters from the name of the moneyer on the other. None of the moneyers at the Anglo-Norman mints had an Irish name, and the one Viking name is that of Siward at Limerick. The omission of John's name from the coinage is significant and may reflect that he was a Lord not King. All these farthings were produced at 3 mints:

Dublin
   ADAM    NICOLAS    NORMAN    ROBERD    TOMAS    TURGOD

Waterford
   GEFREI    MARCUS    WALTER

Limerick
   SIWARD

Struck between 1190 and 1198, there are 54 known examples of John as Lord "mascle" farthings. A majority of these were struck by Norman (13) during the 'first issue' and Adam (18) during the 'second issue.'

Historical Context

In 1189, Henry II died and John's elder brother, Richard, became king. Shortly after this an unprecedented coinage of round halfpence and farthings was issued in Ireland - both denominations that would not be struck in England for another 32 years. This coinage, was limited to the production of halfpennies and farthings in Ireland, and may be an indication of John's inferior status as a Lord, while the king retained the privilage of coining pennies. These coins were struck to meet local needs and have yet to be found outside Ireland...
From 1190 to around 1194, when an uprising caused a temporary cessation, this coinage was only struck in Dublin (i.e. 'first issue'). Dublin production was resumed later in 1194 (i.e. 'second issue') and continued until John became king in 1199. Production commenced at Waterford in c.1195, and in c.1197 production commenced in newly conquered Limerick, following the death of the King of Munster, Donal Mór O'Brien.
No farthings of John's Mascle Coinage were known until 1806, when several were discovered along with some Anglo-Irish halfpence of the same period. The farthings had the same moneyers names as found on some of the halfpence from this hoard.1 Modern forgeries of these farthings occasionally appear on the market.
These mascle farthings are not to be confused with the Anglo-Irish farthings produced when John became King of England. In 1210, as King, John authorised the Irish mints to produce a new design of farthings - a design now referred as the REX coinage.

Coin Characteristics

  • Metal: Silver
  • Denomination: Farthing (¼ penny)
  • Mint(s): Dublin, Waterford & Limerick
  • Obverse: Large mascle with incurved sides, 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.
  • Reverse: Cross potent with a letter in each quarter, usually with a pellet under each letter.
  • Coin diameter: 10-11mm
  • Weight: 0.29-0.44g

Coin Examples - moneyer ADAM of Dublin ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Adam - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Adam - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: ADAM

Obverse: Compressed mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: ADAM, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter.
Moneyer's name be read clockwise, with all letters facing outwards.

Reference(s): Spink 6220, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Prince John Mascle Farthing Adam - Obverse 2 Prince John Mascle Farthing Adam - Reverse 2
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: ADAM

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: ADAM, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter.
Moneyer's name be read clockwise, with all letters facing outwards.

Reference(s): Spink 6220, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Prince John Mascle Farthing Adam - Obverse 3 Prince John Mascle Farthing Adam - Reverse 3
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: ADAM

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: ADAM, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter.
Moneyer's name read clockwise, with letters facing outwards except the letter M which faces inwards.

Reference(s): Spink 6220, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Prince John Mascle Farthing Adam - Obverse 4 Prince John Mascle Farthing Adam - Reverse 4
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: ADAM

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: ADAM, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter.
Moneyer's name read clockwise, with letters facing outwards except the letter D which faces inwards.

Reference(s): Spink 6220, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer NICOLAS of Dublin ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Nicolas - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Nicolas - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: NICOLAS

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: NICO, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and no pellet under each letter. Letters are out of sequence (e.g. 'NCOI' when read clockwise), with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6220, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer NORMAN of Dublin ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Norman - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Norman - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, First Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1190-94?
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: NORMAN

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: NORM, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read clockwise, with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6220, DF 38

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Prince John Mascle Farthing Norman - Obverse 2 Prince John Mascle Farthing Norman - Reverse 2
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, First Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: NORMAN

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: NORM, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read anticlockwise, with R reversed, and all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6220, DF 38

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer ROBERD of Dublin ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Roberd - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Roberd - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, First Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1190-4?
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: ROBERD

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: ROBE, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read clockwise, with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6220, DF 38

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Prince John Mascle Farthing Roberd - Obverse 2 Prince John Mascle Farthing Roberd - Reverse 2
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, First Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1190-4?
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: ROBERD

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: ROBE, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read anticlockwise, with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6220, DF 38

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer TOMAS of Dublin ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Tomas - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Tomas - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: TOMAS

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: TOMA, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and no pellet under each letter. T facing inwards, else the sole example is too flat to determine name or letter orientation.

Reference(s): Spinks 6220, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer TURGOD of Dublin ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Turgod - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Turgod - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, First Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1190-4?
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: TURGOD

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: TVRG, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read clockwise, with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6220, DF 38

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £675 (Fine) £2800 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer GEFREI of Waterford ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Gefrei - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Gefrei - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: GEFREI

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: GEFR, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read clockwise, with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6222, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £1500 (Fine) £3750 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer MARCUS of Waterford ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Marcus - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Marcus - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Waterford
Moneyer: MARCUS

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: MARC, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read clockwise, with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6222, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £1500 (Fine) £3750 (Very Fine)

Prince John Mascle Farthing Marcus - Obverse 2 Prince John Mascle Farthing Marcus - Reverse 2
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Waterford
Moneyer: MARCUS

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: MARC, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read clockwise, with all letters facing inwards - pellet in C

Reference(s): Spinks 6222, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £1500 (Fine) £3750 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer WALTER of Waterford ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Walter - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Walter - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Waterford
Moneyer: WALTER

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: WALT, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and a pellet under each letter. Name can be read clockwise, with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6222, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £1500 (Fine) £3750 (Very Fine)

Prince John Mascle Farthing Walter - Obverse 2 Prince John Mascle Farthing Walter - Reverse 2
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Waterford
Moneyer: WALTER

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: WALT, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and no pellet under each letter. Name can be read anticlockwise, with all letters facing inwards.

Reference(s): Spinks 6222, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £1500 (Fine) £3750 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - moneyer SIWARD of Limerick ↩

Prince John Mascle Farthing Siward - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Siward - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Second Issue, Mascle Farthing

Year(s): 1194-8
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: SIWARD

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: SIWA, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and no pellet under each letter. Name out of sequence with all letters facing outwards except W, transposed with A (e.g. 'SWAI' when read clockwise).

Reference(s): Spinks 6221, DF 41

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: £2000 (Fine) £5000 (Very Fine)

Coin Examples - Bludered Legends / Contemporary Forgeries

Prince John Mascle Farthing Contemporary Forgery - Obverse 1 Prince John Mascle Farthing Contemporary Forgery - Reverse 1
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Mascle Farthing (Contemporary Forgery)

Year(s): unknown
Mint: unknown
Moneyer: NOON?

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse: NOON?, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and no pellet under each letter. Blundered legend.

Reference(s): Spinks -, DF -

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: -

Prince John Mascle Farthing Contemporary Forgery - Obverse 2 Prince John Mascle Farthing Contemporary Forgery - Reverse 2
Prince John Lord of Ireland - Second ("DOM(inus)") Coinage, Mascle Farthing (Contemporary Forgery)

Year(s): unknown
Mint: Dublin
Moneyer: Illegible

Obverse: Large mascle with 3 pellets at each point and a pellet in the centre.

Reverse:, Cross potent with a letter in each quarter and no pellet under each letter. Illegible moneyer.

Reference(s): Spinks -, DF -

Scarcity: Extremely rare

Guide Price: -

Corpus of Coins

This corpus records all coins available for study or known from published sources, auction catalogues and FPLs. An asterisk (*) indicates that there is an illustration on this page. Recorded weights are given where available.

Abbreviations

  • BM — British Museum
  • NMI — National Museum Ireland, Dublin
  • PC — Private Collections
  • SCBI — Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles, 1968
  • SNC — Spinks Numismatic Circular
  • UM — Ulster Museum
  • wnr — weight not recorded
ADAM (constrained mascle - moneyer's name read clockwise with all letters facing outwards)
1 PC; CNG Sale 61, 25 September 2002, lot 2687; 0.35g.
2 PC; CNG online shop item 5605010 > CNG Sale 123, 23 May 2023, lot 1107; 0.33g.
3* NMI; wnr.
4 UM; Pilgrim Trust [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1957] (SCBI, pl.III, no. 131)2 > Lockett, Glendining, 28 Nov 1951, lot 507; 0.31g.
5 PC; Lawrence, Glendining 28 November 1951, lot 1319; wnr.
ADAM (large mascle - moneyer's name read clockwise with all letters facing outwards)
6* PC; CNG Sale 32, 7 December 1994, lot 628 > Spinks Numismatic Circular, May 1995, item 2754 > Spinks Numismatic Circular, October 1995, item 5579 > Spinks Numismatic Circular, May 1996, item 2167 > Spinks Numismatic Circular, February 1998, item 36 > Spinks Numismatic Circular, July 1998, item 4645 > DNW Sale 27, September 2022, lot 599; 0.36g/12h.
7 PC; Spinks Numismatic Circular, October 1995, item 5589 > Spinks Numismatic Circular, February 1997, item 236 > Spinks Numismatic Circular, July 1997, item 3687; wnr.
ADAM (large mascle - moneyer's name read clockwise with letters facing outwards except M facing inwards)
8 PC; Denton, April 1980 > Simpson, Spink Sale 25021, 2 April 2025, lot 52; 0.43g.
9 PC; Hansons Sale, 25 February 2021, lot253 > Simpson, Spink Sale 25021, 2 April 2025, lot 52; 0.29g.
10 BM; E.2868, ex. Evans (acquired by the British Museum from the Evans collection in 1845); 0.37g.
11 PC; Spinks Numismatic Circular, September 1992, item 4920; 0.36g.
12* PC; Spink 1971 > Whytes Millennial Collection, 29 April 2800, lot 37 > York Coins; 0.33g.
13 UM; (SCBI, pl.III, no. 132)3 Cunningham, Glendining, 31 Jan 1951, lot 561 > Carlyon-Britton; 0.37g.
14 PC; Patrick Finn, May 1999, List 16, item 446 > Baldwin, 4 October 2004, sale 38 lot 473, "Stock of the late Patrick Finn"; wnr.
15 PC; Spinks Numismatic Circular, October 1980, item 8415 > Noonans (formerly DNW) Sale 347, 10 February 2026, lot 10; 0.38g/12h.
ADAM (large mascle - moneyer's name read clockwise with letters facing outwards except D facing inwards)
16* BM; 1915,0507.251 (acquired by the British Museum in 1915); 0.29g.
17 PC; Detectorist find; wnr.
18 NMI; wnr.4; wnr.
NICO
19* BM; 1838,0921.15 (acquired by the British Museum in 1838), (SCBI, plate XVI, no. 6) > Spurrier, Sotheby, 29 August 1838, lot 41; 0.37g.
20 PC; wnr.
NORM (large mascle - moneyer's name read clockwise with letters facing inwards)
21 PC; SNC, November 1991, item 7183 > Philip Greenall, Baldwin, 8 October 1996, lot 1801 > Finn, List 10, May 1997, list 374 > SNC, February 1998, item 37 > SNC, July 1998, item 4645 > Ballynahinch > James Adam/Bonhams, 21 February 2003, lot 86 > DNW, 'Good Money' Sale, 27 September 2022, lot 600; 0.38g/12h.
22 BM; E.2869 (Evans bequest to the British Museum); 0.37g.
23 PC; SNC, September 1992, item 4919 > SNC, May 1993, item 2673 > Finn, List 1, Spring 1994, item 495 > Finn, List 8, September 1996, item 418 > Finn, List 14, September 1998, item 466; 0.39g.
24* PC; Lucien La Riviere, Spinks 178, 22 February 2006, lot 30 > Dolphin Coins > Superior Galleries, 12 December 1992, lot 1472 > DNW, 20 June 2001, lot 594; 0.34g.
25 PC; Vosper > E.B. Tregear; wnr.
26 PC; SNC, December 1976, item 10426 > SNC, May 1981, item 4088 > SNC, February 1982, item 582 > SNC, November 1983, item 7370 > SNC, July 1984, item 4549 > SNC, November 1988, item 7131 > Glendining, 24 January 1996, lot 78 > W. Conte, Baldwin, Sale 13, 28 May 1997, lot 1488; wnr.
27 PC; coin split in M quarter; wnr. 28 PC; wnr.
NORM (large mascle - moneyer's name read anticlockwise with letters facing inwards and R reversed)
29 BM; E.2870 (acquired by the British Museum from the Evans collection in 1845) > likely Walker, Sotheby, 1 May 1845, lots 107, 110 or 111 (part); 0.37g.
30* PC; DNW, 14 March 2012, lot 627; 0.36g.
31 PC; Glendining, 19 March 1986, lot 308 > Greenall. Baldwin, 8 October 1996, lot 1801 > Finn, List 10, May 1997, item 375 > Finn, List 17, September 1999, item 418 > DNW, Sale 55, 8 October 2002, lot 1429 (mis-attributed as NICO); 0.37g.
32 UM; (SCBI, pl.II, no. 69) > Carlyon-Britton (1962) > SNC, 1913, item 1727 > Bearman5; 0.36g.
33 PC; SNC, February 1998, item 36; wnr.
NORM (large mascle - unclassified)
34 UM; (SCBI, pl. 2, no. 68) > Grainger bequest (1891)6; 0.44g.
ROBE (moneyer's name read clockwise with all letters facing inwards)
35* PC; Baldwin FPL, Winter 2012/13, item IR006 > A.H. Baldwin; 0.34g.
36 PC; SNC, December 1980, item 10275 > SNC, May 1981, item 4089 > SNC, February 1982, item 579 > SNC, November 1983, item 7371 > SNC, April 1986, item 2386; wnr.
37 PC; SNC, December 1976, item 10439; wnr.
ROBE (moneyer's name read anticlockwise with all letters facing inwards)
38* Fitz.; CM.5.2353-1933, Henderson Bequest 1933; 0.38g.
ROBE (unclassified)
39 BM; E.2871 (acquired 1845 as part of the Evans bequest to the British Museum) > likely Walker, Sotheby, 1 May 1845, lots 103, 107, 110, 111 or 112 (part); 0.35g.
40 PC; SNC, December 1976, item 10427; wnr.
41 PC; Timeline, 6 December 2016, lot 3044; 0.22g.
TOMA (lettering orientation unknown)
42* PC; DNW, 15 March 2017, lot 582 > Ormonde Coins (David Headon) “Hibernia Collection” #66; 0.40g.
TURG (moneyer's name read clockwise with all letters facing inwards)
43* PC; Galata (Withers), online item 100724-11 > David Rogers; 0.37g.
44 UM; (SCBI no. 70) > Carlyon-Britton (1962) > Dudman, Sotheby 15 December 1915, lot 675 (part) > H. Clark(e) > likely Neligan, Sotheby 15 January 1851; 0.34g
GEFR (moneyer's name read clockwise with all letters facing inwards)
45* PC; SNC, April 1986, item 2390 > DNW, 19 June 2008, lot 6 > Sazama, DNW, 21 June 2012, lot 392; 0.33g.
46 PC; SNC, December 1980, item 10275 > SNC, May 1981, item 4089 > SNC, February 1982, item 579 > SNC, November 1983, item 7371 > SNC, April 1986, item 2386; wnr.
MARC (moneyer's name read clockwise with all letters facing inwards)
47* BM; E.2872 (acquired 1845 as part of the Evans bequest to the British Museum)(SCBI pl.XVI, no. 9) > likely Walker, Sotheby, 1 May 1845, lots 104, 105 or 106 (part); 0.37g.
48 PC; eBay May 2017 > DNW, 12 December 2017, lot 1419; 0.32g/11h.
MARC (moneyer's name read clockwise with all letters facing inwards - pellet in C)
49* PC; Ormonde Coins (David Headon) “Hibernia Collection” #49; 0.25g.
WALT (moneyer's name read clockwise with all letters facing inwards)
50* BM; 1838,0921.19 (donated by Cureton 1838) (SCBI, pl.XVI, no. 10) > 'Gentleman' = Spurrier, Sotheby, 29 August 1838, lot 43 (part); 0.43g.
WALT (moneyer's name read anticlockwise with all letters facing inwards)
51* PC; Vosper (detectorist find in County Tipperary, somewhere near Clonmel Town, Ireland); wnr.
SIWA (moneyer's name read anticlockwise with all letters facing inwards)
52* UM; (SCBI, pl.III, no. 142) > Pilgrim Trust > Baldwin > Lockett, Glendining, 18June 1957, lot 507 (part); 0.39g.
Contemporary Forgery ("NOON")
53* PC; Coins & Antiquities; wnr.
Contemporary Forgery? (Illegible)7
54* PC; Hird, Glendining, 6 March 1974, lot 172 > C.J. Denton > Adolf Ganter > Ormonde (David Headon) > DNW, 26 September 2011, lot 1792 > CNG, online 417721; 0.27g/12h.
Illegible
55 BM; 1956,0407.44 (acquired 1956); 0.30g.


Footnotes

  1. John Lindsay, A View of the Coinage of Ireland, from the Invasion of the Danes to the Reign of George IV. Cork: Luke H. Bolster, 1839, 25. ↩
  2. "SCBI 10: Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum." Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles 10. London: Published for the British Academy, 1966.↩
  3. "SCBI 10: Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum." Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles 10. London: Published for the British Academy, 1966.↩
  4. William O'Sullivan. The Earliest Anglo-Irish Coinage. Dublin: National Museum of Ireland and The Stationery Office, 1961, pl. 9↩
  5. Thomas Bearman of Hackney's collection was purchased en bloc by Baldwins and dispersed. "SCBI 10: Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum." Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles 10. London: Published for the British Academy, 1966, xxiii.↩
  6. The Revd. Canon Grainger donated his collection, which included coins, to the Belfast Corporation on 23 November 1891. "SCBI 10: Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum." Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles 10. London: Published for the British Academy, 1966, xiv.↩
  7. The illegible moneyer's name has resulted in many experts coming to their own interpretation: the reverse reading is not clear; it could be ALEX or a blundered version of WALT. C.J. Denton notes "If WALT, then not in the Ulster Museum or National Museum of Ireland; if ALEX, known only from a reference in Lindsay". He also notes opinions given by the British Museum: "not WALT" and the NMI: "much nearer to ALEX but inconclusive". It has also been identified as GEFR - but if so, the lettering is both inward and outward facing and lacks the usual pellet under each letter. The lack of pellets, the crude lettering, the mixed orientation of lettering, and the illegibility of the name, together suggests that this coin is a possible contemporary forgery.↩

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