Dr. Smith on the Irish Coins of Edward the Fourth. 9 



quantity of the said moneys of brass or copper be devised and made continually 

 by the discretion of the master."* 



These farthings and half-farthings were first published by the Rev. Mr. 

 Butler, of Trim.f 



The farthing has on one side a bishop's head, full face, vsrith mitre richly 

 ornamented ; at the top, on the right side of the mitre, a sun of eight rays ; on 

 the left, a rose of six leaves ; legend, patricivs, divided below by the robed 

 bust, which extends to the margin of the coin. On the other side, a cross, a sun 

 in two of its quarters, and a rose in the alternate quarters ; legend, salvator, 

 divided into four parts by the arms of the cross ; suns and roses alternately 

 between the two letters in each division of the legend : it weighs nine grains. — 

 (PI. I. fig. io.)t 



Another has, at the right side of the mitre, a small cross instead of a sun ; 

 and at the left, a sun in place of a rose. — (PI. I. fig. ll.)§ 



One variety of the half-farthing has, on one side, an open crown, within a 

 circle of pellets, outside which is the word patrik ; pa is separated from trik 

 by a branch, and a similar branch is interposed between the termination and 

 beginning of the word, and after the letter k there is a small annulet. On the 

 other side, a cross, within a circle of pellets : it weighs eleven grains. — (PI. I. 

 fig. 12.) 



In another, the crown is close ; legend same as that just described ; it has the 

 letter p in one of the quarters of the cross on the reverse : it is corroded, and 

 weighs nine grains. — (PI. I. fig. 13.) 



A third variety has the crown open, but of a very different form from that 

 on the first variety ; the legend, which is defaced, is evidently somewhat different 

 from either of those described : it has not the letter p on the reverse, and weighs 

 only seven grains. — (PI. I. fig. 14.) 



* Simon, Appendix, No. VIII. f Numismatic Journal, vol. ii. p. 70. 



X The coin published by Mr. Butler is represented as having a three-quarter face, owing to the 

 imperfection of the coin from which the drawing was made. — Numismatic Journal, vol. ii. p. 75. 



§ Fynes Moryson says, " there were lately found brass coins, by ploughing up the earth, whose 

 stamp shewed that the bishops of Ireland had of old the privilege of coining." — Itinerary, Part i. 

 Book iii. Chap. vi. vii. London, 1617. 



VOL. XIX. b 



