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The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

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THE ELIZABETHAN COINAGES FOR IRELAND. 105for <strong>the</strong> observation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> good accompt <strong>and</strong> reckoningbetwixt both our realms ". Each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> greater pieceswas to be rated <strong>and</strong> be current for I2d. Irish in Irel<strong>and</strong>,<strong>and</strong> for 9d. sterling in Engl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> not above. <strong>The</strong>smaller moneys coined for groats were to be currentfor 4d. Irish <strong>and</strong> 3d. English. A proclamation was tobe published (op. cit., No. 78, <strong>and</strong> Carew Papers, subanno).If <strong>the</strong> words " agreeable to " are to be read asmeaning " equal to", <strong>the</strong> statement is not quite accurate,because <strong>the</strong> English st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>of</strong> silver was, at <strong>the</strong> date<strong>of</strong> this letter, 11 oz. 2dwt. fine (Num. Chron., 4th ser.,vol. xvi, pp. 6 <strong>and</strong> 8), whereas I shall presently show that<strong>the</strong> Irish coins <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> second issue were only1 1 oz. finea great improvement in quality, but not uniform with<strong>the</strong> English currency <strong>of</strong> 1560. Elizabeth,having thusconfronted <strong>the</strong> Dublin executive with an accomplishedfact, writes ano<strong>the</strong>r letter on 17 June containingfur<strong>the</strong>r directions explanatory <strong>of</strong> her ra<strong>the</strong>r curt intimation<strong>of</strong> 22 May. <strong>The</strong> Lieutenant is told thathad been found that <strong>the</strong> moneysItcould not be refined<strong>and</strong> new coined in that realm (Irel<strong>and</strong>) without an overgreat charge, <strong>the</strong>refore it had been resolved to recoin <strong>the</strong>same in <strong>the</strong> Tower <strong>of</strong> London. A reasonable gain was tobe <strong>of</strong>fered, after <strong>the</strong> decrying, to merchants trading in bothrealms for bringing <strong>the</strong> coins to <strong>the</strong> Tower. <strong>The</strong> harpshilling <strong>of</strong> Queen Mary marked with two letters M <strong>and</strong> Kshall be valued at 8 d Irish or exchanged for 8 d in Irishfine moneys. <strong>The</strong> harp shilling <strong>of</strong> Philip <strong>and</strong> Mary with<strong>the</strong> stamp <strong>of</strong> both <strong>the</strong>ir faces, <strong>and</strong> likewise <strong>the</strong> harp shilling" coined in our time <strong>and</strong> stamped with our face ", shall be1current each for 5^' Irish or exchanged for 5 d Irish in finemoneys. <strong>The</strong> harp groats <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same stamp <strong>and</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ardshall be current for l| cl or three for .5^d Harp groatswith <strong>the</strong> arms <strong>of</strong> Engl<strong>and</strong> on one side <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> harp on <strong>the</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r (presumably <strong>the</strong> Bristol-coined groats <strong>of</strong> Henry VIII)shall be l^d Irish. <strong>The</strong> rose penny shall be current for" a farthing half-farthing Irish " or four for l d (S. P. Irel<strong>and</strong>,Eliz., vol. 4, No. 7).

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