68 Dr. Smith on the Irish Coins of Henry the Seventh. 



This little coin differs from the three varieties described by Mr. Hawkins, in 

 having a small cross at one side of the neck ; and it possesses additional interest 

 in relation to some other Irish coins of Henry, as will appear hereafter. 



It may not be amiss to notice a few particulars of the coins themselves. The 

 small crosses on figs. 27» 28, 29, 30, as mint marks, are similar to those on coins to 

 be described hereafter. The letter b is frequently substituted for r, a blunder 

 which I have not observed on any of the coins of Edward the Fourth, struck in 

 or about 1470, from which these coins are also distinguished by the absence of 

 the hair on the king's forehead, a peculiarity common to the undoubted English 

 and Irish coins of Henry the Seventh. The word hiber in the legend is also 

 remarkable, and I may add, it is not probable that such a variety of mint marks 

 would have been adopted, during the very short period, within which these coins 

 could have been struck by Henry the Sixth. 



One groat of the Waterford mint is known ; the letters which are preserved 

 on the obverse are just sufficient to identify it as belonging to one of the Henrys. 

 The legend appears to have been henric dei gra rex angli franc ; reverse, 

 posvi, &c., and civitas waterford ; it weighs thirty-two grains. — (Fig. 31.) 



The last coin in this division has a large cross, mint mark, and the legend 

 HENRIC DEI gra BEX ANGL FR, with small ciuque-foils between the words ; re- 

 verse, posvi, &c., and civitas dvblinie. The c is represented by e, and the d 

 by an e reversed; it weighs twenty-nine grains. — (Fig. 32.) 



This groat appears to be the link, as to type, between the preceding coins, 

 and those with the double-arched crown in the next division. 



The coins in the second division of this section, are distinguished by the 

 double-arched crown, surmounted by a ball and cross. The number of arches in 

 the tressure varies, and some have a pellet at each point of the tressure. 



The legend on the groats is henric dei gra rex angl fr. The c in the 

 king's name is in most instances reversed, and the words are divided either by a 

 small cross or two cinque-foils ; reverse, posvi devm aivtore mevm, and in the 

 inner circle, civitas dvbiinie ; when in good preservation they weigh from thirty 

 to thirty-two grains. — (Figs. 33, 34.) 



Simon says he had some groats " with a single, and others with a double- 

 arched crown."* I do not know of any such variety, and I have little doubt but 

 his fig. 97 is incorrectly represented. The legend is henricvs di gra rex agl 



• P. 32. 



