The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

IRISH COINAGES OF HENRY VIII AND EDWARD VI. 221
the current values of the English silver coins. The
shilling was thenceforth to be rated as 6d. in the realm
of England and the marches of Calais, and all the
smaller pieces in a similar proportion.
Three months later it becomes apparent that the
spirit of reform which was moving towards a finer
coinage in England was also stirring in relation to
the Irish currency. The King writes to the Lord-
Deputy on 26 November, 1551, to the following
effect : It had been desired that the money should
be of like value to that in England, and the Council
had devised a plan whereby it should be amended
and brought to a greater fineness than ever before.
Whereas the moneys there were wont to be one-third
part coarser than here, they should not differ so much ;
that when England had two standards, the one of xi oz.
fine, the other more base for pence, halfpence, and
farthings, then the fine moneys
in Ireland should be
ix oz. fine and the small moneys 3 oz. fine. Although
the accustomed profit would be lacking, yet it would be
for the commonweal of the country, as would be understood
from Martyn Pyrrye on his return from London
(S. P. Ireland, Edw. VI, vol. 3). This promise of better
things was not translated into action, but the same
scheme was again introduced some six months later.
Although no Dublin mint accounts are known, the
increment obtained from that source is included in
some figures prepared by ~Wm. Brabazon, the treasurer
for Ireland, in September, 1551. In 3 Edw. VI the
profits of the mint were 4,215 ; in 4 Edw. VI 900 ;
and in 5 Edw. VI 12,373. The last item is less by
300 than Pirry's own return, which has been already
quoted.