Medieval Irish Hammered Farthings - John I: Irish mints

This online guide is designed to help

  • Metal Detector enthusiasts
  • Museum Curators
  • Coin Dealers & Collectors

accurately identify and classify their Irish Hammered Farthings.


Overview:

John Lackland was the youngest son of Henry I and brother of Richard I "The Lionhearted". In 1177, while John was only 9 years old, Henry I made him Lord of Ireland - a position held by John until becoming king in 1199. During his Lordship, a series of farthings were produced in Ireland with a mascle of one side and the name of the moneyer on the other. Edward Colgan in For Want of Good Money states: "In 1970 it was believed that fewer than 30 of John's mascle farthings may have survived. It is possible that under a hundred of these coins survive."



Prince John, Lord of Ireland

Second Coinage.



Irish Farthing - Norman Dublin

Date: 1190-1194?
Mint: Dublin
Type: SECOND COINAGE - First Issue
Moneyer: NORMAN of DUBLIN

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: NORM
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6220
  DF.38
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £525 (Very Fine)

Sold by:
  • (Feb. '06) A very fine example of this coin was sold by Spinks Auctions, ex. Lucien Larivere, lot. 30, for £632.50.
Two examples of this coin are listed in the SCBI 10, "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum":
  • (68) Grainger [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1891], letters inward and retrograde - R reversed.
  • (69) Carlyon-Britton [1962], ex. Bearman Collection; Spink SNC [1913], c. 145: 1727 - lettering as on 68.
A further example is in the collection of John Stafford-Langan (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Date: 1190-1194?
Mint: Dublin
Type: SECOND COINAGE - First Issue
Moneyer: ROBERD (or RODBERD) of DUBLIN

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: ROBE
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6220
  DF.38
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £525 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the British Museum:
  • (Plate XVI, 4) Mascle farthing, with the unusual abbreviation of the moneyers' name, RODB (the author has yet to verify this abbreviation)
A further example is in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver") with the moneyers' name abbreviated as ROBE.



Date: 1190-1199
Mint: Dublin
Type: SECOND COINAGE - First Issue
Moneyer: TURGOD of DUBLIN

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: TVRG
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6220
  DF.38
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £525 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

An example of this coin was listed in the SCBI 10, "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum":
  • (70) Carlyon-Britton [1962], ex. Dudman 725 (Sotheby's, 15-19 Dec. 1913), Bearman Collection, H. Clark(e).
A further example is in the Dr Rogers Collection, donated to the British Museum (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Irish Farthing - ADAM Dublin

Date: 1194-1198
Mint: Dublin
Type: SECOND COINAGE - Second Issue
Moneyer: ADAM of DUBLIN

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: ADAM
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6220
  DF.41
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £525 (Very Fine)

Sold by:
  • (Sept '02) A very fine example of this coin (photo above) where the D is unusually not retrograde, was sold by DNW for £650.
  • (Feb '06) A very fine example of this coin was sold by York Coins for £795.
Two examples of this coin are listed in the SCBI 10, "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum":
  • (131) Pilgrim Trust [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1957], ex. Lockett 507 (Glendining, 28 Nov 1951) letters outward and D retrograde.
  • (69) Carlyon-Britton [1962], ex. Cunningham 561 (Glendining, 31 Jan to 2 Feb 1951) - lettering as on 131.
A further example is in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Date: 1194-1198
Mint: Dublin
Type: SECOND COINAGE - Second Issue
Moneyer: NICHOLAS of DUBLIN

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: NICO
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6220
  DF.41
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £525 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the British Museum:
  • (Plate XVI, 6) Mascle farthing, with the moneyers' name, NICO


Date: 1194-1198
Mint: Dublin
Type: SECOND COINAGE - Second Issue
Moneyer: TOMAS of DUBLIN

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: TOMA
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6220
  DF.41
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £525 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. A coin of this moneyer was included in Simon's "An Essay towards an Historical Account of Irish Coins," (2nd edition) 1810, plate 11. No example has been seen by this author.



Date: 1194-1198
Mint: Waterford - Second Issue
Type: SECOND COINAGE
Moneyer: GEFREI of WATERFORD

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: GEFR
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6221
  DF41
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £325 (Fine)
  £750 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (also referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").:
  • (Plate XVI, 11) Mascle farthing, with the moneyers' name, GEFR


Date: 1194-1198
Mint: Waterford
Type: SECOND COINAGE - Second Issue
Moneyer: MARCUS of WATERFORD

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: MARC
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6221
  DF41
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £325 (Fine)
  £750 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the British Museum:
  • (Plate XVI, 9) Mascle farthing, with the moneyers' name, MARC


Date: 1194-1198
Mint: Waterford
Type: SECOND COINAGE - Second Issue
Moneyer: WALTER of WATERFORD

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: WALT
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6221
  DF41
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £325 (Fine)
  £750 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the British Museum:
  • (Plate XVI, 10) Mascle farthing, with the moneyers' name, WALT


Date: 1194-1198
Mint: Limerick
Type: SECOND COINAGE - Second Issue
Moneyer: SIWARD of LIMERICK

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: SIWA
    Moneyers name as letters within the angles of the obverse cross.

Reverse: Mascle with trefoils at the points.

Reference(s):
  S.6222
  DF41
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

Two examples of this coin are listed in the SCBI 10, "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum":
  • (140) Carlyon-Britton [1962], dies 1/2.
  • (131) Pilgrim Trust [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1957], dies 1/2, ex. Lockett 506 (Glendining, 28 Nov 1951).


John de Courcy, Lord of Ulster

"St. Patrick" Coinage.



Date: c.1186
Mint: Downpatrick
Type: "ST. PATRICK" COINAGE
Diameter: 12mm
Weight: 0.32gm

Obverse: +PATRICII
    Cross potent.

Reverse: +GOAN D CVRCI
    Voided cross potent.

Reference(s):
  S.6224
  DF.49
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin:
  • (Plate XVI, 15) GOAN D CVRCI
Another example is in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Date: c.1185-c.1205
Mint: Downpatrick
Type: ANONYMOUS COINAGE
Diameter: 10mm-12mm
Weight: 0.38gm

Obverse: +PATRICII
    Around a Processional Cross.

Reverse: +DE DVNO
    Around a cross potent with crescents in the angles.

Reference(s):
  W.1
  S.6225
  DF.47
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Sold by:
  • (June '01) A very-fine and toned example from same obverse die as the SCBI Ulster 337 (0.34gm), but with the reverse struck off-centre, was sold by DNW for £1530 (lot 595).
10 examples of this coin are listed in the SCBI 10, "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum":
  • (330) Pilgrim Trust [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1957], ex. Lockett 509 (Glendining, 28 Nov 1951), Sir John Evans Collection (Lockett acquired coins from this collection that were not required by the English National Collection).
  • (331) Pilgrim Trust [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1957], ex. Lockett 509 (Glendining, 28 Nov 1951), Sir John Evans Collection.
  • (332) Seaby (1958), broken.
  • (333) Acworth [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1961], ex. Col. R.H. Wallace Collection.
  • (334) Carlyon-Britton [1962].
  • (335) Carlyon-Britton [1962].
  • (336) Carlyon-Britton [1962].
  • (337) Carlyon-Britton [1962], ex. Walters Collection (private sale on 19 Sept 1919).
  • (338) Carlyon-Britton [1962].
  • (339) Carlyon-Britton [1962].
A further example is in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Irish Farthing - Norman Dublin

Date: c.1185-c.1205
Mint: Downpatrick
Type: ANONYMOUS COINAGE
Diameter: 10mm-12mm
Weight: 0.38gm

Obverse: +PATRICI
    Around a Processional Cross.

Reverse: +DE DVNO
    Around a cross potent with crescents in the angles.

Reference(s):
  W.unlisted variant
  S.6225
  DF.47
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Sold by:
  • (Feb '06) A very-fine and toned example - slightly chipped, was sold by Spinks for £1976 (lot 27).


Date: c.1185-c.1205
Mint: Carrickfergus
Type: ANONYMOUS COINAGE
Diameter: 10mm-12mm
Weight: 0.38gm

Obverse: +PATRICI
    Around a Processional Cross.

Reverse: +CRACFEVF
    Around a voided cross potent.

Reference(s):
  W.2
  S.6226
  DF.48
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Sold by:
  • (June '98) A badly chipped (about 40% missing) example remained unsold by DNW (est. £400-£500) (lot 189).
A further example is in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Date: c.1185-c.1205
Mint: Carrickfergus
Type: ANONYMOUS COINAGE
Diameter: 10mm-12mm
Weight: 0.38gm

Obverse: +PATRICI
    Around a Processional Cross.

Reverse: +CRACF
    Around a voided cross potent.

Reference(s):
  W.3
  S.6226
  DF.48
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

Three examples of this coin are listed in the SCBI 10, "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum":
  • (340) Carlyon-Britton [1962] - reads CRAGF, ex. Spink, SNC 1931, c. 364: 9809
  • (341) Grainger [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1891] - reads CRAGF.
  • (342) Robb [donated to the Ulster Museum in 1937] - reads CRAGF.
A further example is in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Date: c.1185-c.1205
Mint: Carrickfergus
Type: ANONYMOUS COINAGE
Diameter: 10mm-12mm
Weight: 0.38gm

Obverse: +PATRICII
    Around a Processional Cross.

Reverse: +CRACF
    Around a voided cross pommee.

Reference(s):
  W.4
  S.6227
  DF.48
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin:
  • (Plate XVI, 18)
A further example is in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



King John

Third Coinage.


Date: 1204/05-1210?
Mint: Dublin
Type: THIRD COINAGE
Moneyer: ROBERD

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: IOh AN RE
    Crowned bust in triangle, stars either side.

Reverse: RO BE RD
    Sun in triangle.

Reference(s):
  W.
  S.6234
  DF.52
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

An example (legend reads RO BE RD) of this coin is listed in the SCBI 10, "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" (the various legend types and are not identified):
  • (340) Carlyon-Britton [1962], ex. Longbottom 317 (Sotheby 14-15 May 1934).
Another example (legend reads RO BE RD) is in the collection of Richard Walshe (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Date: 1209-1211
Mint: Dublin
Type: THIRD COINAGE
Moneyer: ROBERD

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: IOh AN REX
    Crowned bust in triangle, stars either side.

Reverse: ROB. ERD ON.
    Sun in triangle.

Reference(s):
  W.
  S.6234
  DF.52
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published.



Date: 1209-1211
Mint: Dublin
Type: THIRD COINAGE
Moneyer: ROBERD

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: IOh AN. REX.
    Crowned bust in triangle, stars either side.

Reverse: ROB. ERD ON.
    Sun in triangle.

Reference(s):
  W.
  S.6234
  DF.52
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Known Examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published.

An example (legend reads ROB· ERD ON·) is in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Irish Farthing - Roberd Dublin

Date: 1209-1211
Mint: Dublin
Type: THIRD COINAGE
Moneyer: ROBERD

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: IOh AN REX
    Crowned bust in triangle, stars either side.

Reverse: ROB. ER. DO.
    Sun in triangle.

Reference(s):
  W.Unrecorded variety
  S.6234
  DF.52
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Sold by:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published.
  • (1998) A good very fine example this coin was sold by Patrick Finn (List 13, 1998, Item 412) for £1250.

    Patrick Finn noted: "A very difficult coin to find; in DF (DOWLE & FINN, P. 1969: A Guide Book to the Coinage of Ireland from 995AD to the Present Day) I illustrate one of the more common crude contemporary forgeries (52A). As far as I know this is only the fourth recorded specimen by ROBERD. There are two in the National Museum of Ireland, and one in the Ulster Museum. There may however be one in the BM."

  • (Feb. '06) The Partick Finn coin (legend reads ROB· ER· DO·) was sold by Spinks Auction, ex. Lucien Larivere, lot. 33, for £1380.


Date: 1209-1211
Mint: Dublin - Contemporary Forgery
Type: THIRD COINAGE
Moneyer: Forgery

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: (Blundered)
    Crowned bust - crudely made from pellets - in triangle, stars either side. Legends blundered.

Reverse: (Blundered)
    Sun with pellet above within a triangle. Legends blundered.

Reference(s):
  W.
  S.6234
  DF.52A
Scarcity: Rare

Guide Price:
  £150 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the British Museum:
  • (Plate XVI, 41)
(Feb. '06) An example of a contemporary forgery was offered by Time Line Originals for £495.

Another example (legend reads RO BE RD) is in the collection of Richard Walshe (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



Date: 1209-1211
Mint: Dublin
Type: THIRD COINAGE
Moneyer: WILLEM

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: IOh AN RE
    Crowned bust in triangle, stars either side.

Reverse: WI LLE MO
    Sun with pellet above within a triangle.

Reference(s):
  W.
  S.6234
  DF.52
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published. One example was listed as in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin:
  • (Plate XVI, 21)
Another example is in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").

(Oct. '03) A further example with the obverse partly-flat and with the reverse struck off center was sold by DNW for £1530 (lot 996).



Date: 1209-1211
Mint: Limerick
Type: THIRD COINAGE
Moneyer: WACE ON LIMERICK

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.35gm

Obverse: IOh AN REX
    Crowned bust in triangle, stars either side.

Reverse: WA CEO NLI
    Sun in triangle.

Reference(s):
  W.
  DF.-
  S.-
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £1200 (Very Fine)

Known examples:

No example of this coin was in the Ulster Museum at the time "Anglo-Irish Coins in the Ulster Museum" was published.

An example is in the collection of John Stafford-Langan (referenced and illustrated in Withers' "Irish Small Silver").



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