Dr. Smith on the Irish Coins of Edward the Fourth. 5 



Simon has published a groatof this type, (PI. III. fig. 61,) its weight forty-two 

 grains, the crown is very shallow, and within a double tressure of twelve arches, 

 in both of which particulars, it differs from the undoubted coins of Edward the 

 Fourth, of a similar type ; the ornaments at the points of the tressure are also 

 different from those on Edward's coins. For these reasons, I appropriate this 

 groat to Henry the Sixth. 



Snelling, in his Supplement to Simon's Essay, has published a penny, (PI. I. 

 fig. 16,) its weight nine grains and a half, the crown is shallow, within a double 

 tressure of twelve arches, and without ornaments at the points of the tressure. 

 This penny I also consider as belonging to Henry the Sixth. 



All the other coins, of a similar type, I appropriate to Edward the Fourth, 

 for the following reasons. The crown on all of them is similar in form and 

 workmanship, and very different from that on the coins just described ; the 

 double tressure round the crown consists of eight or nine arches, instead of 

 twelve ; and at each point of the tressure there are three pellets, instead of a 

 trefoil with pointed leaves. 



Of the groats there are four kinds. In the first, the crown, which is deep 

 and broad, is within a double tressure of nine arches, with three pellets at each 

 point of the tressure. On the reverse, a cross, with three pellets in each of its 

 quarters ; those in the first and third are connected by an annulet, (some pieces 

 have the annulets in the second and fourth quarters of the cross;) legend, civitas 

 DVBLiNiE, (PI. I. fig. 1.) This groat weighs forty-four grains and a half, which 

 is half a grain less than the standard : the deficiency may be accounted for by the 

 remedy which was allowed to the mint-master, of six pence in the pound, or half 

 a grain in each groat.* 



* Simon, Appendix, No. VIII. 



In every instance in which the habitat of the coin, if I may use the expression, is not men- 

 tioned, the reader will please to bear in mind, that the descriptions have been drawn up from coins 

 which have been submitted to my inspection. And I avail myself of this opportunity of acknow- 

 ledging my obligations, and expressing my grateful thanks, to the Very Reverend the Dean of 

 Saint Patrick's, for the most unrestricted access to his extensive and very valuable collection, to 

 which I am chiefly indebted for the illustrations of this paper. I am also under many obligations 

 to the Reverend Mr. Butler, of Trim ; Mr. Lindsay, and Mr. Sainthill, of Cork ; and Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Weld Hartstonge, of Dublin ; for the loan of some of the rarest and most interesting coins 

 of the Irish mints, and their permission to publish them. 



