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



Munster, except Waterford, being neither lawful in itself, nor of lawful weight 

 and allay," was declared void, and forbidden to be taken in payment.* 



Although Limerick does not appear in the Acts as a legal mint, after the 

 year 1467, I am disposed to think that city enjoyed authority to coin money at 

 a subsequent period. The Limerick coins described in this section are as well 

 executed as any pieces from the authorized mints ; and besides the varieties of 

 the groats which are known, there are also two varieties of the half groat and 

 penny. — (PI. III. figs. 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 ; see also Editor's additional plate to 

 Simon, figs. 16, 17.) The number of coins issued from this mint distinguish it 

 from those of Cork and Wexford, of which only groats of rude execution are 

 known. 



Of the coins from the authorized mints, those of Trim appear to have been 

 made between the years 1470 and 1473, for in the latter year the privilege of 

 striking money was withdrawn from this mint, and it does not appear to have been 

 restored at any subsequent period. 



The groats of Drogheda, Dublin, and Waterford, without the letter g on 

 the king's bust, were all minted previous to the year 1473, as was also the Water- 

 ford groat with the letter ^ on the bust ; the latter weighs forty-three grains, 

 and is the heaviest piece of the English type which I have met with, except fig. 

 48, which weighs forty-five grains and a half. 



The pieces with the letter g on the bust were all struck subsequent to the 

 year 1473 ; some of those of Dublin may have been minted in that year, but 

 the Drogheda and Waterford groats were probably issued in 1475, when the 

 authority for making money was restored to those places. 



I do not know of any half groats or pennies with the letter g on the bust. 



Mr. Lindsay has stated, that the letter g is " probably the initial of Germyn 

 Lynch,"f an opinion which I shall endeavour to corroborate. 



Simon, on the authority of a manuscript in the Library of Trinity College, 

 Dublin, states that in 1472, Germyn Lynch was indicted for making light 

 groats at Drogheda. J But, independent of this authority, there is evidence in 

 the Act of 1471, that Lynch had been deprived of his office of Master of the 



♦ Simon, Appendix, No. XV. f View of the Coinage, p. 43. 



X Page 27. 



