ANTIQUITIES. 



I. On the Irish Coins of Edward the Fourth. By Aquilla Smith, M.D., 



M.R.I.A. 



Read 30th November, 1839. 



1 HE study of the various coinages, which took place in Ireland, during the 

 reign of Edward the Fourth, is peculiarly attractive, from the number and 

 variety of his coins, which have reached our times ; and the difficulties which 

 have hitherto existed, in appropriating many of them to the exact period at which 

 they were struck, give additional interest to the investigation. 



My object in tracing the history of the coins of this reign, is, to endeavour to 

 clear up some of the difficulties which have embarrassed our most skilful numis- 

 matists ; and although I cannot pretend to remove all the obstacles which have 

 been experienced, I trust I shall be able to bring forward some illustrations, 

 particularly of one of the most interesting coinages of this reign, which will 

 enable me to attain a greater degree of precision, in fixing the dates of some 

 coinages, than has been the case heretofore. 



I propose to notice, as briefly as possible, the several mintages which are 

 described in the Acts of Parliament passed during this reign, of which we 

 possess more records than of any of the preceding or subsequent reigns, for a 

 long period. For this purpose, it will be convenient to divide the history of the 

 coins into four sections, each distinguished by its peculiar type ; and as there are 

 a few coins known, of which we possess no records, except such as we derive 

 fromjthe pieces themselves, these will be described in connexion with the types, 

 to which they bear the closest resemblance. 



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