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



The groat (PI. I. fig. 9) has a double tressure of ten arches round the crown ; 

 the legend on the reverse is blundered, the s in Civitas is reversed, i is substituted 

 for B, and an inverted l for n in Dublinie : it weighs only twenty-eight grains. 

 The deficiency of its weight, although it is nearly as broad as the other groats, 

 the blundered legend, the inferior workmanship, and the apparent impurity of 

 the metal, lead me to believe that this coin is an ancient forgery. 



The second kind of groat, (PI. I. fig. 3,) differs only from the first in having 

 three small crosses above the crown, in the angles outside the tressure ; these 

 crosses were, perhaps, privy marks, which by the letters patent were ordered to 

 be placed on the silver coins ; it weighs forty-four grains. Some minor dis- 

 tinctions on their reverses prove that there are, at least, three varieties of this 

 kind. 



The third kind of groat has the crown within a double tressure of eight 

 arches, and a small sun in each angle outside the tressure. Reverse similar to 

 the first kind. Weight, forty -four grains and a half. — (PL I. fig. 5.)* 



The fourth kind differs only from the preceding one in having roses instead 

 of suns outside the tressure. Weight, forty-two grains and a half. — (PI. I. fig. 7.) 



The suns and roses on these groats are sufficient evidence, as Mr. Lindsay 

 remarks, that they belong to Edward the Fourth ; they are the only coins of the 

 type under consideration which he appropriates to this reign, and supposes they 

 were coined in the first year. 



Reluctant as I am to differ from so high an authority, I cannot help thinking 

 they were coined in 1462, or early in 1463 ; for I have already shewn, that in 

 1462, a farthing of copper, mixed with silver, was ordered to be made in the 

 Castle of Dublin, having suns and roses within (without?) the circumference of 

 the crown ; which enactment probably led to the alteration in the type of the 

 groat. And the difference in the number of arches in the tressure may, I think, 

 be accounted for, by supposing that the artist reduced them from nine to eight, 

 to leave more room for the suns and roses in the angles outside the tressure. 

 The groats of the first and second kind were probably coined in the first year of 

 this reign. 



* In Mr. Lindsay's " View of the Coinage of Ireland," a groat is described (page 39,) and 

 engraved (PI, V. fig. 106) as having small roses in the angles outside the tressure. 



