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



THE FIRST SECTION 



Includes those coins, the type of which was peculiar to Ireland. 



1461. — In the first year of this reign, at a parliament held at Dublin, it was 

 enacted that a maille or halfpenny, and a quadrant or farthing of silver, be made 

 in the Castle of Dublin, according to the rate of the new penny made in the last 

 year of the reign of Henry the Sixth.* As none of these halfpence or farthings 

 have been discovered, it is unnecessary to take any further notice of them. 



1462. — In the next year, a farthing of copper, mixed with silver, was ordered 

 to be made in the Castle of Dublin, having a crown on one side, with suns and 

 roses in the circumferance of the crown ; and on the other side, a cross, with the 

 name of the place of mintage.! I am not aware of any of these farthings being 

 in existence. 



It appears that letters patent were granted to Germyn Lynch, of London, 

 on the sixth of August, in the first year of Edward's reign, by which he was 

 authorized to make coins within the Castles of Dublin and Trim, and in the 

 town of Gal way, to the tenor and effect of the statute or statutes, made by autho- 

 rity of a parliament held at Drogheda, in the last year of Henry the Sixth. 

 The coins specified in the letters patent are, a groat of silver, whereof ten shall 

 go to the ounce ; J half groats and pennies were also authorized to be made, and 

 a privy sign to be on every piece of silver money.§ 



Before I proceed to describe the coins made under the authority of the letters 

 patent, it is necessary to refer to the statute of Henry the Sixth, according to 

 the tenor and effect of which, Lynch was empowered to make coins. 



In the year 1460, at a parliament held at Drogheda, it was enacted, that a 

 groat should be made of the weight of three pence sterling, (forty-five grains 

 Troy,) and to pass for four pence sterling, having on one side a crown, and on 

 the other a cross, with the name of the place of mintage. And at an adjourned 

 session of the same parliament, a penny of silver was ordered to be made, and to 

 have the same impression as the groat. || 



* Simon, Appendix, No. VI. t Simon, Appendix, No. VII. 



X The Tower ounce = 430 grains troy. § Simon, Appendix, No. VIII. 



II Simon, Appendix, No. V. 



