The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

IRISH COINAGES OF HENRY VIII AND EDWARD VI. 227
were to be empowered
to melt down and convert all
shillings, groats, half -groats, pence, and halfpence
coined before 31 August, 1551. The earlier part of
the draft manifestly follows the general lines of the
English fine silver coinage which was issued in the
winter of 1551 and onwards. Instead of completing
this intended commission, the government, as we have
seen, merely ordered the debased shilling of June,
1552.
Perhaps it will be appropriate to add the unofficial
names by which sundry coins of this period were
known in Ireland, together with their relative valua-
tions :
Sixteen "smulkyns", or rose pence of base metal,
were said to be equal to an old half-face groat,
undipped. (The New English Dictionary says that
the word smulkin is obsolete and rare, and quotes
its use in 1571, but this is an earlier instance.)
Pieces of Henry VIII and Edward VI which were
coined for I2d. English went by the name of "black
testons ".
Groats of the same kings and of like baseness were
known as " white groats ", and were the equivalent of
four smulkyns.
Base pieces coined by Henry VIII were current as
" red harpes ", and were worth three smulkyns.
There is a detailed inventory, dated 8 February,
1553-4, of the tools, implements, and other effects left
in the mint at Dublin Castle after Edward's death.
The list was drawn up by the late assay-master, and
can be found among the Irish State Papers of the first
year of Queen Mary.
The Oarew MSS. of the year 1557 (no. 213 in the