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

ROYAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 94. Kevue Numismatique. 2 e trimestre, 1916.5. American Journal of Archaeology. Vol. xx, No. 4.Mr. Walters showed a denarius of Postumus, rev.Hercules and wild boar (Cohen 120).Mr. Symonds showed a fine collection of coins fromMr. Bearman's collection to illustrate the following paper.A paper on the Irish coinages of Queen Elizabeth wasread by Mr. Henry Symonds. The first coinagein 1558-9followed that of Philip and Mary both in weight and fineness,the bullion being obtained by meltingthe base coins ofEngland and adding more alloy. The second coinage of1561 was a genuine attempt to restore the Irish moneys toa fineness approaching that of the English currency, but theissue was unfortunately very limited in amount. Althoughthere was at this time an intention to set up a mint inDublin, as is shown by the State Papers, the project failed,and the coins were still made in the Tower of London.Mr. Symonds proved that the supposed coinage of 1598 didnot exist, and that a misreading of a contemporary documenthad been responsible for the belief. There was, in fact, noissue of Irish coins for forty years, until the third coinagewas struck in 1601 and 1602. The attempted reformationwas then abandoned, and the new coins were lighter inweight and more debased than the base money of thebeginning of the reign ; copper pieces were also made.Documentary evidence showed that two brothel's namedHayes were informal advisers of the government in respectof the third coinage. Shortly afterwards a proclamationannulled all coins in Ireland except those of 1601-2, andexchanges were established to prevent the carrying of moneyto and from England. The scheme broke down entirely,and resulted in great distress among the Irish people.(Thispaper is printed in Vol. xvii, pp. 97 if.)