Irish Coinage
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EDWARD III & HENRY VI

Irish Coinages of Edward III (1339) and Henry VI (1425)

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© 2004 - Copyright
John _ Stafford-Langan
Version 1.12
4th October, 2004

  Edward III (1339)

Edward III produced a brief coinage for Ireland in 1339. The style was similar to that of Edward I but with a star at the beginning of the obverse legend and in the reverse legend. Only two halfpennies and a single farthing are known but it is probable that pennies were also struck.

A coin of this issue could be easily mistaken for an Edward I specimen especially if it is in poor condition - the key distinguishing difference is that the obverse legends sepells out Edward's name fully : EDWARDVS REX rather than the abreviated form that occurs on the issues of Edward I.

The two known specimens of the halfpenny:
1 ) In the National Museum of Ireland. (LINK)
2) Sold in Whyte's 'Millennial Sale' in April 2000 and is believed to be still in private hands.

The farthing:
1 ) In the National Museum of Ireland. (LINK)

Henry VI (1425)

Henry VI produced a small issue of coins for Ireland in 1425 which is supported by surviving documentation. These pennies, in Henry's name, have an annulet mint mark in the obverse field and in the reverse legend. The annulet issue of Henry VI in England is normally allocated to 1423-1427 further supporting this allocation. The three surviving specimens were issued in Dublin which was the only authorised mint for the issue.

At the time of this issue the currency in Ireland comprised poor quality English and other foreign coins which were circulating at considerably below their issue weight. It this environment it is difficult to see how any of the full weight new issue could have survived long in circulation without being heavily clipped.

The coins themselves were probably made in London for export to Ireland rather than actually being struck in Dublin. All the surviving specimens were found in English rather than Irish locations. The coinage was certainly known about by numismatists (e.g. Simon 1746) before any specimens were known. The coins are of sterling standard.

There are three pennies of this issue known:
1) In the British Museum in London, (LINK)
2) In the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, (LINK)
3) In private hands, identified by Patrick Finn and published in Spinks Numismatic Circular.