Dr. Smith on the Irish Coins of Edward the Fourth. 21 



The value of silver in Ireland vpas raised enormously in 1467, the consequence 

 of which was, that the price of every thing increased in proportion ; to remedy 

 which evil, the next parliament held in Duhlin, in 1470, enacted " that the master 

 or masters of the coinage shall have power to make and strike within the castles of 

 Dublin and Trym, and the town of Drogheda, five sorts of silver coynes, according 

 to the fyness of the coynes struck in the Tower of London," viz. the groat, half 

 groat, penny, halfpenny, and farthing. The groat to have on one side the print of 

 a head crowned, with the writing, " Edwardus Dei Gratia, Rex Anglle Dominus 

 Hibernie ;" and on the other side the print of a cross, with the pellets according 

 to the groat made at Calais, and the motto, " Posui Deum Adjutorem Meum," 

 with the name of the place of mintage ; of which groats, eleven shall make the 

 ounce, troy (tower?) weight ; and that the fifth part of every pound be struck 

 in small pieces. It was also enacted that the master might allay the halfpence 

 and farthings according to the Statute made in the fifth year of this reign, which 

 Statute cannot be found. By this Act, the coinage of 1467 was reduced to half 

 its original value, and forbidden to be taken for a coin after the feast of the 

 Purification next.* 



1471.t — By an Act of this year, it appears that a great part of the coinage of 

 1470 was neither of full weight nor fine allay .J 



1472. — The Act of this year states, that false coins were made in Cork, 

 Youghal, Kinsale, and Kilmallock.§ 



1473. — At a parliament held in Dublin, it was enacted, that the coins should 

 be struck, for the time to come, within the castle of Dublin only, and in no 

 other place in Ireland ; and that fourteen groats should make an ounce, accord- 

 ing to the just standard of the Tower of London ; and to be made according 

 to the fineness and alloy of the said tower ; and that Germyn Lynch be master 

 of the said mint during good behaviour.|| 



1475. — The groat made in England at this time was ordered to pass, if not 

 clipped, for five pence ; and all the moneys to be struck in Ireland, to be of the 



* Simon, Appendix, No. X. 



f In Simon's Appendix, this Act is dated 1472 ; and at page 27, he calls it the Act " of the 

 eleventh of this prince." 



X Simon, Appendix, No. XI. § Simon, Appendix, No. XII. 



II Simon, Appendix, No. XIII. 



