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Annex
THE OBSIDIONAL MONEY OF THE GREAT REBELLION. 1642-1649.
Bv PHILIP NELSON, M.D.
HE
period of the Civil war, 1642-1649, or as
termed by Clarendon,
"
The Great
Rebellion,"
it
has been
is
a section
history unsurpassed in interest and the accomplishment of great purposes. Throughout this time
of our
national
warfare was carried on with varying results between the party of the King, or the Cavaliers, and the supporters of Parliamentary Reform. From the austerities of their style of dress and habits the intestine
became known as the Puritan party or Roundheads and this struggle, whatever its merits, by overthrowing the feudal system, initiated that liberty and sense of justice, which are among the latter
;
proudest attributes of the English nation to-day. Into the circumstances which led by insensible steps to the outbreak of the civil war, it is not within our province to enquire it is :
here to remark that the questions in dispute between the and Parliament were such, that both parties despairing of any
sufficient
King
settlement
or
compromise,
determined to put the matter to the
arbitrament of the sword and to "
Upon Nottingham,
August
22,
1642,
a banner inscribed
loose the dogs of war." Charles erected his standard
let
with
the
"
legend,
Religio
at
Pro-
Angliae Libertas Parliamenti," an inscription exwhich in the opinion of the opposition were sentiments pressing somewhat open to question. The first engagement, a cavalry skirmish, testans
Leges
took place at Powick Bridge, near Worcester, September 25, 1642, where the Royalists under Prince Rupert, the King's nephew, were u 2
1685371
The Obsidional Money of the Great
292
Rebellion.
and Colonel Sandys, the leader of the Parliamentarian horse, This initial success raised the hopes of the was amono- the slain.
successful,
their somewhat Pyrrhic victory King's party, but to be damped by of Edgehill, October 23, 1642. In the course of the following year were contested the battles ot
Chalgrove Field, June 18, where the patriot Hampden was mortally wounded Atherton Moor, June 30 Lansdown, July 5 and Roundway Down, Devizes, July 13 in all of which engagements the party of the ;
;
;
;
King was
victorious.
storm by the Crown
On
July 26, the city of Bristol was carried by forces under the command of Prince Rupert, and
stronghold proved a most important acquisition, since at that In the same year, period Bristol was the first seaport in the kingdom. September 20, was fought the first battle of Newbury, in which this
combat Lords Falkland, Sunderland and Carnarvon were among the slain, the former of whom thus attained to that peace he sighed for.
The campaign of 1644 opened with by Sir Thomas Fairfax, January
the defeat, at Nantwich, in Cheshire,
25, 1643-1644, of a body of Irish which landed at troops, having Mostyn, in North Wales, had overrun Cheshire on behalf of the King. England was, however, invaded from the north by the Scots at the instance of the Parliament, who were
with difficulty kept in check by the Royalists under the command of At this time Fairfax returning from Marquis of Newcastle.
the
Cheshire, defeated Colonel Bellasis at Selby, and Newcastle, fearing to be surrounded by the two converging forces, retreated to York,
where he was
at once besieged. Prince Rupert marched to his aid, on his several relieving way beleaguered garrisons, among others that of Lathom House.
Acting upon the urgent commands of Charles, whose headquarters were then at Oxford, but contrary to the advice of Newcastle, with whose forces he had effected a junction, Rupert, who meant fighting,
led
forth
and joined
July
2,
joint
command in
army
to the
moor near Long Marston, upon
battle with the levies of the Parliament,
of Fairfax and Cromwell.
were disastrous victory
the
to the cause of the
The
under the
results of this
combat
King, as the fruits of apparent
the earlier stage of the action,
were
lost,
owing
to the
Historical Introduction.
293
rashness of Rupert. On the morrow he withdrew his shattered forces into Lancashire and on July 16, York opened its gates to the victors. One of the results of this battle was the withdrawal of the Marquis of Newcastle from the strife
this nobleman, seeing the hopelessness of the Royalist cause, and disgusted that his advice had been disregarded, retired to Scarborough, whence he passed over to the Continent, and
remained there
;
until the Restoration.
Previous to the battle of Marston Moor, Waller had been routed
Copredy Bridge near Banbury on June 29, by the Royalists, who then marched westwards against the forces of Essex. The latter's army at
was cornered
Cornwall and compelled to capitulate, with the exception of the horse, which under Balfour passed safely
falling
back,
through the
however
in
Royalist lines
a mist and so escaped.
in
to this surrender, Essex,
who had abandoned
Previously
his army, escaped
Plymouth. After this Parliamentary reverse, there was fought, October 27, the second battle of Newbury, the results of which combat were upon the whole adverse to the cause of Charles.
by boat
to
In the beginning of the following year, January 30, 1644-45, a conference was arranged at Uxbridge, for an attempted settlement of the matters in dispute between the King and the Parliament, but the negotiations
fell
through and
civil
war was
at
once renewed.
by the House of Lords, April 3, 1645, Essex, Manchester, Warwick and many others, relinquished their commands, and the chief military control From this point onward into the hands of Sir Thomas Fairfax.
As a consequence
of the self-denying ordinance passed
passed misfortune dogged the Royalist cause.
On
June 14, 1645, Charles the. hands of Fairfax and
sustained a crushing defeat at Naseby, at Cromwell, a result due, as ever, to the impetuosity of Rupert. in this battle lost nearly
The King
a thousand killed and some five thousand
what proved even more damaging to his cause, was subsequently published namely, his private correspondence, which in the vain hope of by the Parliament. Charles retreated to the West, more troops in Wales, and at the same time Rupert threw
prisoners, together with
raising
himself into Bristol. Fairfax
following
into
the
south-west,
rapidly
captured
in
294
The Obsidional Money of
succession
the
the
Great Rebellion.
and
Bridgwater, Bath and Sherbourne, to the investment of Bristol, which
towns
of
city proceeded So capitulated after a very feeble resistance, September n, 1645. annoyed was Charles at Rupert's unlooked-for surrender of this
immediately
stronghold of the west, that he recalled all his may be said that the fall of Bristol was the finally
decided
the
of
fortunes
the
war.
commissions, and circumstance
Meanwhile,
it
which
upon
the
surrender of Carlisle, June 25, the Scots army had marched south and besieged Hereford, but was obliged to fall back into Yorkshire before the advance of the forces of Charles, who passed north to relieve Chester.
Here
at
Rowton Heath, September
24,
he suffered
immediate reduction of the yet another defeat, which west by the Parliamentary arms under Fairfax. resulted in the
Charles,
immediately after
this
battle,
once
more returned
to
was invested by Colonel Rainsborough. On April 27, the King, disguised as a servant, effected his escape, and making his way to Newark, gave himself up to the Scottish army, which at the time, May 5, was besieging that town. Oxford, which, early
in
1646,
Newark, together with all other strongholds held for the Crown, was surrendered by command of the King, and the Scots fell back At this city the King, by easy stages upon Newcastle. was handed over to the English Comupon January 30, 1647, missioners, in return for a
pay
for
payment of ,400,000, claimed as arrears of the Scottish troops, and this transaction led to the saying :
" "
Traitor Scot
Sold his King for a groat."
Charles was removed to
Homeby House
in
Northamptonshire,
but after the raid of Joyce, he was conducted to Hampton Court. In November, he was induced to secretly retire to the Isle of Wight,
where he was detained
at Carisbrook Castle
the governor, and later conveyed to a prisoner.
At
this period, 1648,
to accept the
by Colonel Hammond, Hurst Castle, where he remained
made to induce the King terms offered by the Parliament, which however Charles vain efforts were
Silver Plate coined into Money. refused.
which
now occurred in Wales, Essex and the North, in locality the Duke of Hamilton was at the head of an
Risings
latter
invasion in July, and to which the
however
were
295
King was
These attempts
privy.
suppressed, Cromwell defeating in turn and Hamilton a few days later. Ten Preston, Langdale days subsequently, namely on August 27, Fairfax captured Colchester, the headquarters of the Royalists in Essex, and this practically terminated readily
at
the campaign.
For bring
his alleged complicity in these events,
the
to
King
On December
trial.
was determined to
it
23,
he was brought
to
Windsor, thence to St. James, and lastly to Whitehall, January 19, 1649. Having been arraigned before a specially constituted tribunal,
he was condemned to death on January 27, and three days later was beheaded in front of the banqueting chamber at Whitehall, being subsequently buried during a snow storm at Windsor.
commencement enthusiasm was shown by both
Upon
the
of
the
civil
war,
and
nobles
sides,
extraordinary
gentry gladly order to supply the sinews of war, whilst the partisans of the Parliament were not to be outdone in their efforts, as will be apparent from the following lines culled from
contributing their jewels
Butler's
Hudibras
and plate
in
:
"
Did
"
And crowd
saints, for this, bring in their plate,
as
if
they came too
late.
"
For when they thought the cause had need " Happy was he that could be rid on't. " Did they coin trenchers, bowls and flagons, " In't officers of horse and dragoons. " And into pikes and musquetteers, Stamp beakers, cups and porringers ? " A thimble, bodkin and a spoon,
"
Did
"
As
start
up
"Just
men
as soon were thrown, they
living
in the furnace
like the dragon's teeth 1
Hudibras,
Pt.
I, c.
2,
being sown." 1.
562
1
(revised).
on't,
296
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
ENGLAND in the
GREAT REBELLION A.O. 1642-1660.
FIG.
I.
Silver Plate coined into Money.
297
July 12, 1642, the two Houses of Parliament made an order to prohibit the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge from contributing their plate to the cause of the Information was however sent King.
Upon
to Charles of the rich store of plate at these places, and the readiness of the authorities to contribute the same to further his aims, and, as a
result of this, the
King dispatched
to
the Vice-Chancellor
of each
University two representatives with letters of authority, so that the might be duly effected. The University of
transfer of these riches
Oxford and the majority of safely
conveyed to the King
was not
sent,
The
although
colleges sent their plate, which was but that of the University of Cambridge
its ;
many
of the individual colleges contributed
treasures of St. John's and
Magdalen, however, never reached their destination, but were seized by Cromwell whilst in A portion of the University plate was used by transit to Nottingham. theirs.
weight at that town for the purpose of paying the troops, and much was converted into coins at Shrewsbury, at which place the King established a mint. Here coins of large size were issued, namely :
pounds, half-pounds and crowns in silver, one of which was respecThe tively presented, to each colonel, sub-officer and private soldier. wholesale destruction of silver plate at this period is no doubt largely responsible for the extreme rarity of pre-Carolian silver, which, in turn,
accounts for the high prices
now
realised
by any
silver plate antecedent
to 1640.
Following the overthrow of the Royalist cause at Naseby, the struggle to a large degree devolved into a succession of defensive
measures on the part of the Cavaliers, who, on behalf of the Crown, It is defended numerous castles and towns throughout the land. the during this period of 1645-1649 that the greater number of the were struck, majority siege-coins we are about to pass in review
Siege money was struck at the Beeston Castle, Carlisle, namely
being issued during the earlier years. following
Scarborough,
in
England, Lathom House,
places
:
Newark, Colchester and Pontefract
These coins were doubtless used for paying the defending also be accepted as currency by the garrisons, and would probably Castle.
neighbouring country-side.
The
the rudest majority of the coins are of
The Obsidional Money of
298
the
Great Rebellion.
admit of careful execution, since the necessities of the time did not in all probability no competent die-sinkers or moneyers production, and
would be available.
The
coins were usually struck
flans
by melting down would expect, under the trying
specially prepared
what one
only
being struck This is the plate.
of silver, in place of platters, cups, etc.,
from trenchers,
upon
irregular pieces of plate, cut
upon
circumstances in
which the various garrisons found themselves placed.
That
this
the case is clearly proved by the many examples existing, which traces of the original decoration are still visible, in instances
even,
particularly
the rim of the dish being
upon
still
examples issued
to be seen at the
evidence of this direct use
Additional
blanks
of
siege-coins
bearing hall-marks, which
in detail,
silver
that
and
I
is
upon some
at
Scarborough, edge of the piece.
silver
plate for the
by the existence of four will be referred to presently
afforded
production
coin
of
was
believe that at Carlisle and Pontefract only
was the
It is recorded melted down, prior to being struck into coins. of Sir Gervase Cutler the second Pontefract, siege during
contributed
,1,000 worth of family
plate,
in
order
to
defray the
expenses of the garrison.
We
will first consider the various siege-coins struck in England the civil war, and then pass on to review those obsidional during pieces and other moneys of necessity issued in Ireland about the .same period, taking the coins in their chronological sequence.
CARLISLE. was defended by the Royalist forces under Sir Thomas Glemham from October, 1644, until June 25, 1645, when it was Carlisle
surrendered to the commander of the investing Scottish army, David The city was never assaulted, the Leslie, afterwards Lord Newark. siege being rather in the nature of a
was brought about hopelessness of
relief.
blockade, and
the
surrender
by the scarcity of food, and in part by the Eor after the defeat of the King's forces at
in part
Carlisle.
the garrison, realising that further resistance vain, opened negotiations for the surrender of the city, and the
Naseby, June
was
299
14, 1645,
FIG. 2.
defenders,
VIEW OF CARLISLE FROM STANWIX,
tire.
I"JOO.
who numbered some seven hundred, were
permitted to
march out with all the honours of war, June 25, 1645. For much information relative to the events which occurred at this place, we are indebted to one of the citizens named Tullie, whose Narrative of the Siege of Carlisle still exists. From this work we learn that about Christmas, 1644, the corn in the town was taken from the inhabitants and placed in stores, and, he adds,
"a good
while
after,
an
order was published to
every
citizen
to
bring in their plate to be coyned, which they did chearfully." From this domestic plate siege-coins of two denominations
were
struck, viz.
which appears
:
to
three-shilling pieces
and
shillings, the
minting of
have been carried out under the control
of the
Corporation.
The
following
is
a
list
of
the plate obtained for the purposes
of coining-, amounting in all to 1,162 ozs., which, at five shillings considerable per ounce, was equivalent to ^"280 us. ioj^., a for metal sum at that period. In preparing the rough minting, thus left which ozs. 86 there was lost, etc.,
by melting,
refining,
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
300 1,076
ozs.
available for striking the coins.
FIG.
was struck
3.
4.
at the rate
CARLISLE.
metal so obtained
CARLISLE CASTLE AND CITY WALLS, arc. iyoO.
of six
shillings
produced ^323 worth of coins, or
FIG.
The
in
to
other
the
ounce,
words
which thus
6,460
THE HALF MOON BATTERY, BRIDGE AND MOAT,
arc.
shillings,
1
700.'
I am indebted to Messrs. Burnham, printers of Carlisle, for permission to reproduce the three illustrations of old Carlisle. 1
Carlisle.
and
301
not improbable that this would be divided into 1,000 threeshilling pieces, and the balance into 3,460 shillings. From another source we learn that the coins were actually issued on May 30, it is
1645, and consequently they would space of about one month.
A
the i3th
May
1645
of
list
only be
in
circulation
for
All
the Plaite Brought in to be with the weight thereof.
Coyned
oz
Will Atkinson. Alder one :
salt
Widdow
Winde
Mill Boule. a Trencher
&
three spoones w l ... ... ... ... Craister one beare boule one beaker one wine
boule and six spoones
"I
OI2
\
O
\
024
\
o
...
008
\
j
vv l
w
Julian Aglionby one Boule
l
...
...
...
Bowles w ... ... ... ... .. Thomas Kidd one Boule w ... ... ... ... ... Will: Wilson Tanner one Bowie one Beaker w ... Thomas Lowrie 2 spoones w l Robert Sewell one spoone w Collnell Kirkebride one bowle 4 spoones w Mary Carlile one bowle and 8 spoones w ... Edward Dal ton one bowle one Tumbler & 2 peeces of broken plate w 1 ... ... ... ... ... Mrs. Chambers 2 beare boules and one wine boule w Mr Glaisters 3 beare bowles & 6 spoones w Widdow Baines Junior one bowle 2 spoones w ... Thomas Jackson one bowle & 2 spoones w Thomas Monke one bowle w l Josph Jefferson one bowle w Mr Edward Orpheur one bowle 4 spoones w John Orbell 2 bowles one gilt bowle and 10 spoones w ...
Edmond Kidd
2
l
l
015 007
l
l
l
l
"I
O22
J
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Widdow Orpheur 4 spoons w Mr Edward Fountaineone bowle one l
salt and 2 spoones w bowle ... gilt Thomas Craggill 2 wine bowles and 3 silver spoones w Henry Monke one beaker 4 spoones w Thomas Tallentyre one bowle 4 spoones w l Captaine Aglionby one bowle w
Mr
Richard Wilson
w
l
l
I
l
...
l
l
Sr
Thomas Glemham
2 Candlesticks
Mr George
w
l
Barwicke one bowle 6 spoones ... Robert James one bowle \v ... l
...
\v l ...
008
\
o
the
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
;o2
oz ... one sugardish w Sr Henry Fletcher one tankard one salt I tumbler \ / f 2 wine bowles o spoones w l Capt: Cape 2 beare bowles 2 gilt salts one Colledge pott l
Jsabell Holliday
on ->->
"1
one Can
Mr
gilt
one
gilt
beaker
Mrs
Tullie 5 spoones
w
l
l
... ... ... ... John Tomlinson one bowle w ... ... ... ... Edward James one bowle w ... Sr Will: Dalston one greate salt one lesser salt one bowle l
l
>
\v l
...
...
...
...
l
l
l
l
The
Citties plate 2
Flaggons
beare bowles
2
w
8
_o
Q
145
o
006 008 008
o
o o o
J
^
2 gilt
bowles one
003
j
2~
J
...
Leo: Dykes one bowle one Tankerd 6 spoones w ... ... ... Lewis West I bowle \v ... ... ... ... Sr Tho: Dacre 2 bowles w ... ... ... Capt Johnson one Tankard one salt \v
Mr Mr
L
4
Qg
"1
8 spoones
o
a
\v l
Fredericke Tonstall one dozen i of plate
w
f
... ...
...
...
030 009 019 030
f
c
f
|
o
o
o
gilt saltl
l
1162-4-1 Received to
plate 1162 oz
in
Mr Dykes
Lost
in
i at
i
6 s per oz
at
5
meltynge and working
per oz Deliured-|
hands
r resting in o
300''
stamped out of 1076 oz.
Gayned by Coyning
s
at
o
23''
6 per oz s
...
3 >
323
o
3
8
4
J
...
...
...
...
42
...
...
...
...
21-100
(Endorsed)
May
A
the 13 th 1645.
note of
plate Coyned.
As
previously mentioned, coins ot two sizes were issued at Carlisle, and of each denomination two distinct varieties are found.
Each piece bears two reverse readings, which reverses are common to both values, and read These respectively in two and three lines. coins i.
may be Three
described as follows Obverse.
shillings.
double
circle,
.
;
e
^
9
<j& beneath a large crown, within a
the outer beaded, the inner linear.
OBS Reverse.
^
:
:
CARL 1645
I
within a similar double
circle.
Weight, 238 grains.
Beeston.
Three
2.
shillings.
&C
Obverse.
303
R
*
s
III
s
OB CARL
Reverse.
.
,
within a double
circle.
Weight, 239 grains.
-
'
double Reverse.
* '
Obverse.
Shilling.
\
^
CARLISLE THREE-SHILLING PIECE.
FIG. 5.
3.
\
* '
C~"
u
U
xn
* '
beneath a crown, and within the usual
^
circle.
Similar to No.
FIG.
i.
Weight, 79-5 grains.
6.
CARLISLE SHILLING.
Obverse. Similar to No. 3. Shilling Reverse. Similar to No. 2. Weight, 80 grains. 4.
All the above were struck
upon
circular
and octagonal blanks.
BEESTON CASTLE. Beeston
hundred Chester very
feet ;
it
Castle,
high,
in
and commands
was therefore
considerable
Cheshire,
at the time
importance.
stands upon a hill nearly four one of the three approaches to
we
are considering a position of
Occupied by three hundred
Parlia-
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
304
mentarian troops, February 21,
December
13,
when
of
men
7.
was held by them
until
BEESTON HILL AND CASTLE.
scaled the
commander, Captain
it
was surprised by Captain Sandford, who with a
it
FIG.
handful
1643,
walls
and captured the
Steel, being subsequently shot
account of his supposed treachery.
The
castle
the
strong-hold,
by remained
his party in
on
the hands
of the Royalists, unattacked, until October 20 of the following year, 1644, on which date it was besieged and remained invested until
March
wnen
was relieved by Prince Rupert. In the course of the following month it was, however, again besieged, and, after a brilliant defence, was surrendered by the 17, 1645,
it
commander, Captain Valet, to Sir William Brerton, but the garrison who numbered fifty-six, were allowed to march out with all the honours of war, and retired to Denbigh, a place at that time held on behalf of the King. Upon the surrender it was discovered by the victors that no food remained in the stronghold, with the exception of a
meat
pasty and some live pea-fowl.
There
is
no documentary evidence extant to
assist us in assigning
the following coins to Beeston, but I think it will be agreed that there is a marked resemblance between the pictures of the castle gateway
and the view which occurs upon the the case
of.
Fig. 13.
The
coins,
more
especially perhaps, in
coins issued from Beeston Castle are struck
upon irregular segments of silver, evidently cut from trenchers, dishes,
Beeston.
305
They are unifacial and bear impressed upon them a somewhat crude representation of the castle gateway, within a beaded indent etc.
;
FIG. 8.
whilst the value, which
THE GATEWAY OF BEESTON CASTLE. is
expressed
in
Roman
1
numerals,
is
punched
in
separately beneath. Owing to the coins having been struck upon rough sections of plate, and therefore being of varying weights and intrinsic values, pieces of very numerous denominations occur, as will be seen in the subjoined list of coins.
The
following pieces are found, s.
d,
20 i
6
s.
13 12 i
1
VOL.
II.
I
am
d.
i
viz.
:
s.
d.
d.
s.
10
/
6
ii
10
indebted to Mr. Larkin, F.R.C.S., for Figs.
7
and
8.
The Obsidional Money of
306
the Great Rebellion.
U FIG. 9.
TWO-SHILLING PIECE.
ONE SHILLING AND FOURPENCE.
FIG. 10.
ONE SHILLING AND A PENNY.
FIG. II.
FIG. 12.
SHILLING.
FIG. 13.
TENPENCE.
FIG. 14.
SEVENPENCE.
BEESTON SIEGE-PIECES.
No
doubt other denominations would be struck, but
if
such was
the case, they have not survived to our time. The values of these coins vary in proportion to the weights for example, the two-shilling piece weighs 208 grains, and the seven-penny :
piece 53-5 grains.
UNCERTAIN TWO-SHILLING
PIECE.
The example upon
it
towers,
of a siege-piece of the value of two shillings, having the representation of a castle gateway with two tall flanking
is
of
much
interest, since the coin is
formed from the bowl of a
In addition to the value I I (punched in separately) this piece spoon. bears the leopard's head, the hall-mark of the period, impressed at a point opposite the juncture of the stem with the bowl,
when
in
its
Scarborough.
307
evidently was part of a seal-head or Apostle spoon, which spoons are always hall-marked thus, with the leopard's head original state.
FIG. 15.
It
UNCERTAIN TWO-SHILLING PIECE BEARING A HALL-MARK.
within the bowl.
This
coin,
which weighs 155*5 grains, was succes-
Webb and Murdoch cabinets. In regard to its attribution, cannot agree that this piece emanated from Beeston Castle, since the resemblance between it and the pieces usually attributed to that place is not sufficiently close to justify the supposition.
sively in the I
SCARBOROUGH CASTLE. Scarborough Castle, which was held by Sir surrendered,
to
Sir
Mathew
Hugh
Cholmondeley,
Bointon, after having
1645, July the rigours of a twelve months' siege. at Beeston, pieces of most unusual denominations were issued
withstood
As
22,
all
being struck upon irregular pieces of silver, which obviously were obtained by cutting up trenchers, dishes and This fact is clearly proved to have other articles of domestic plate.
from
this stronghold,
been the case by some few examples which have come down to us, article still upon which the raised and reeded rim of the original of this evidence. survives. Figs. 16 and 20 are good examples The siege-coins struck at Scarborough have impressed upon them a rough representation of Scarborough Castle, showing the main entrance and five towers, whilst beneath is the value punched in separately.
X
2
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
3 o8
FIG.
FIG.
I
6.
SCARBOROUGH CROWN.
SCARBOROUGH THREE-
I?.
FIG.
1
8.
SCARBOROUGH TWO-SHILLINGSAND-TENPENCE.
SHILLING PIECE.
The
reverse of these coins
is
blank, save for the few specimens
OBS which bear
engraved
upon
them
the
words
$carbcrougK
which
1645 engraving, however, may possibly not be contemporary with the siege, but may have been added subsequently, as a memorial, about the date of the Restoration.
There appear
have been two dies
use for the striking of these coins one gives us a somewhat sketchy picture of the castle with two of the towers much raised, Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24 to
in
;
and
25,
whereas the other portrays
it
with a greater wealth of detail
Scarborough.
and
in addition
and
21). It
may be
has S.C. beneath,
in
easily gathered that,
309
faintly raised
owing
capitals (Figs. 16
to the lack of the necessary
and of the necessary engines for striking the these coins are of the rudest execution, and since the values are
tools for sinking the dies pieces,
dependent upon the weight of the piece of metal upon which the design happened to be struck, specimens of the most varied denominations occur.
TWO-SHILLINGSAND-SIXPENCE.
FIG.
FIG. 19.
2O.
TWO-SHILLINGS-
FIG>
22.
i
ONE-SHILLING-AND-SIXPENCE.
SCARBOROUGH
SIEGE-PIECES.
doubtcoins of thirteen different values are known, though have been issued. The weights and values are
all,
less other sizes
as follows
TWO-SHILLING PIECE.
V
In
FIG. 21.
AND-FOURPENCE.
must
:
s.
d.
grs.
5
o
292
s.
d.
grs.
3 4
4^/.
40 grs.
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
3io
ONE SHILLING.
FIG. 23.
FIG. 24.
SCARBOROUGH
To
ONE SHILLING.
FIG. 25.
FOURPENCE.
SIEGE-PIECES.
same town may be attributed the following piece which was exhibited to the British Numismatic Society by Mr. Baldwin in the
1905.
January,
A
Tower
shilling of Charles
countermarked upon the reverse with a large S
FIG.
26.
I.,
mint-mark, plume,
ornamental
in
script.
COUNTERMARKED SHILLING ATTRIBUTED TO SCARBOROUGH.
NEWARK. after
Newark-on-Trent, sieges,
Charles
was upon I.
May
6,
having withstood several successive 1646, surrendered by the command of
to the Scottish army, at that
two days afterwards
it
was transferred
time besieging the town, and to the
Commissioners of the
English Parliament. Coins were issued here dated 1645 and 1646
;
of the former year
we have
pieces of the values of half-a-crown, shilling and ninepence, whilst of the latter year we have, in addition to these denominations,
The general design of the coins is the same, the obverse having within a beaded border a crown between the letters C R and the value expressed beneath in Roman numerals whilst the sixpence.
;
Newark.
o
U
e '_2
H
The Obsidional Money of
312
Great Rebellion.
the legend in three lines OBS with the date beneath, in Arabic figures.
upon the reverse
NEWARKE,
the
is
All the coins issued from
Newark
NEWARK
or
are struck
upon lozenge-shaped trenchers and from the cut direct which were dishes, flans, apparently other varieties of silver plate in the town, or which could be obtained from Royalist adherents
We
will
now
in the
districts.
neighbouring country
consider these coins
in detail, in order, if possible, to
determine their probable chronological sequence.
FIG.
The
28.
NEWARK
SHILLING.
piece to appear would be the shilling, which bears upon obverse a most curiously shaped crown, the jewelled band of first
OBS
which
is
straight across the front, whilst the reverse reads
NEWARKE 1645
The obverse (a)
of this coin
Nine dots right
arch
in ;
the
is
struck from two separate dies,
left
arch of the crown
C R and XII,
in
thin
;
viz.
:
nine dots in the letters.
Weight
Fig. 28.
(fr)
94 grains. Nine dots in the left arch eight dots in the right arch C R and XII, in thick letters. Weight, 93 grains. ;
The
;
occurrence of two distinct obverse dies for this coin, in my opinion, disproves the theory which has been advanced, that these more especially is this evident since we find that pieces are forgeries ;
there
are
shillings
and ninepences, which are admittedly genuine,
combined with the selfsame reverse
The second
die.
coin to appear would doubtless be the shilling with
Newark. the
same reverse
NEWARKE,
reading,
crown on which has a high arch and a
new
but with a
obverse, the
richly jewelled band.
It
weighs
87 grains.
No
doubt
NEWARKE
about
would be
the issued,
different obverse dies, viz. (a)
Eleven dots
(b)
Eleven dots
same
time
the
ninepences reading struck from two
which pieces occur
:
the
arch
eleven dots in the right arch of the crown, which has a richly jewelled band. Weight, in
left
;
69 grains. in the left arch
nine dots in the right arch of the crown, which has a simple jewelled band. Weight, ;
68 grains.
OBS
Following
this
would be issued the
which reads
shilling
:
NEWARK 1645
which reading now appears for the first time. The crown upon the obverse has ten dots
the
in
arch and
left
eight dots in the right arch of the crown, the jewelled band of which of a very simple character. This piece weighs 92 grains
Upon one retrograde
;
it
of the shillings of this date the therefore reads c H.
R
upon the obverse
OBS
Subsequently the ninepence
(a)
which reads
is
is
:
NEWARK
would
1645 appear.
The obverse
die of this coin
is
identical with that of the ninepence
dots previously described, and has upon the crown eleven and nine in the left and right arches respectively. It. weighs 64 grains.
(b)
United with the same obverse die we
find another reverse in use.
half-crown of this year, which is proved This by the occurrence of a small dot beneath the 4 of the date, 1645. It is
the
same as
that of the
ninepence (d] weighs 63 grains. The last denomination to be struck
in
1645 was the half-crown, the
obverse of which shows us a crown with a crenellated arrangement of the same die as the jewels on the band, whilst the reverse is from
NEWARK
ninepence (d) of the same date.
This
coin,
which weighs
The Obsidional Money of
314
the Great Rebellion.
of comparative rarity, and this would point to the fact of having been struck very late in 1645, probably in March, O.S.
221 grains,
is
FIG.
With regard
NKWARK HALF-CROWN.
29.
the coins struck in 1646,
to
its
it
is
evident that the
issued simultaneously, and no doubt towards the end of the siege, probably in April, the sixpence would In considering the appear, which would account for its greater rarity. date of these coins it is necessary to remember that the year then three higher values would be
began on March
The marked
25.
of
issues
as before
Half-crown. Reverse.
1646 are as follows,
From
the
(a)
30.
A crown with a simply jewelled band, having ten arch and eight dots in the right arch.
Obverse. left
OBS
Reverse.
die as the half-crown of 1645.
same
proved by 234 grains. Compare Fig. dots in the
same
die as the shilling (b) and ninepences of 1646, as the occurrence of a flaw in the 6 of the date. Weight,
the
is
Shillings,
denominations being
:
Obverse.
From
the
:
NEWARK
in
somewhat
thin letters.
Weight, 86 grains.
1646
FIG.
30.
NEWARK
SHILLING,
1646.
Newark.
A
(b} Obverse. left
crown with a
315
richly jewelled band, having ten dots in the
arch and ten dots in the right arch.
OBS
Reverse.
:
NEWARK
from the same die as the half-crown.
in thick letters,
1646 Weight, 90 grains.
Fig. 30.
From
(a) Obverse.
Ninepence.
having eleven dots in
the
the left
same
die as the ninepence (c) of 1645, in the right arches
and nine dots
respectively.
Reverse.
From
the
same
die as the shilling
() and
the half-crown of 1646
Weight, 67 grains. A crown having the band elaborately jewelled, ten dots left arch and ten dots in the right arch.
(b) Obverse.
Reverse.
From
the
same
die as the shilling (b]
in
the
and the half-crown of 1646.
Weight, 68 grains.
Sixpence.
Obverse.
OBS
Reverse.
NEWARK
SIXPENCE.
FIG.
31.
An
elaborate crown between the letters
C
R.
:
NEWARK
Weight, 46 grains.
1646 of the shilling, ninepence, and sixpence of and these were doubtless struck upon flans cut
Not a few examples 1646 are found
FIG.
32.
gilt,
NEWARK NINEPENCE BEARING THE ROYAL ARMS ON THE
FI.AN
The Obsidional Money of
316
from a service of in the list of
the Great Rebellion,
such as the "one guilt boule," mentioned
gilt plate,
Corporation plate presently quoted.
Some specimens
of the shilling and ninepence of 1646 exist which have the Royal arms upon the reverse of the flan, and it appears to me that the coins so marked formed part of some Regal service of plate, which was thus sacrificed to pay the expenses of the siege.
be seen that Fig. 32 also shows piece from which it was cut. It
FIG. 33.
Two Of
the
will
NEWARK NINEPENCE BEARING A HALL-MARK.
other coins struck at
these the
original border of the
Newark deserve
a
in
the
special
collection
recognition.
of coins
the ninepence, property of the Corporation of Liverpool, upon which, beneath the A of NEWARK, appears a leopard's head, the hall-mark of the first
is
The second
piece is a shilling, in the possession of of Newark, w hich coin bears upon the reverse a capital
period.
Dr. Appleby M, within a dotted indent, which appears to be a silversmith's private stamp, and indicates the source whence the piece of plate originally r
came.
There was
in
the
Collection a specimen of a shilling of the obverse die, the reverse being
Montagu
bearing only an impression blank the coin is therefore undated. ;
It
would appear that the Corporation of Newark, unlike that of
Carlisle, did not contribute its plate least, all
of
it,
of the History of Newark to Dr.
The
for
conversion into coin, or at
as the subjoined extract from a letter from the author
Appleby
will
show
:
A
articles of surrender of Newark are dated May 6, 1646. meeting of the Corporation was held May 15, 1646, for the election of an
An
Skilling.
Uncertain
Alderman
in place of Mr. Richards, deceased, "and the better of the towne in the time of visitation " regulating (of the plague which prevailed at that time). Immediately after the minutes of this meeting, but in a different hand and without date is the entry " Plate deliuered to Mr Edward Standishe, consent to be sold :
Alderman, by townes use, and to supplie their p'sent want of money
for the
at the
surrender of the towne.
Imprimis thirteene A'pple [Apostle] spoones Itm twoe high Beere Bowles Itm twoe wine bowles Itm one guilt wine boule Itm five Trencher salts Itm one great stooped salt
The whole
The weight
unfortunately
is left
p'cell
weighing
[
]."
blank.
UNCERTAIN SHILLING.
FIG. 34.
UNCERTAIN SHILLING.
The
die from which the following piece of siege-money, of the value of one shilling, was struck, very closely resembles that of the
Tower
shillings of Charles
I.,
but
whence the
coin was
issued
we
have no means of determining. It is struck upon a lozenge-shaped Newark pieces, and weighs flan, resembling in form those of the 6 1 grains.
It
may be
described as follows
Crowned bust of King
Obverse.
to
left,
:
wearing a lace
collar,
XII behind
the head. Reverse.
The
royal arms quarterly,
upon a
cross fourchee, within a dotted
circle.
It
shilling,
may be
that this piece
was struck from the
from which the legends had been deleted.
dies of a
Tower
The Obsidional Money of
318
Great Rebellion.
the
LATHOM HOUSE.
FIG.
The
following
35.
coin,
siege
LATHOM SHILLING.
which
is
preserved at the
British
Museum, and weighs 125*9 grains, may possibly have been struck at Lathom House in Lancashire, whilst that position was defended by Countess of Derby, against Generals This piece, which is struck Fairfax and Egerton, from 1643 to ^44. upon a piece of trencher plate and is unifacial, may be thus described. de
Charlotte
Shilling. ...
la
Tremouille,
CR
Obverse.
within a dotted circular indent, counter stamped
within an oblong compartment, which doubtless indicates the value.
Reverse.
Blank.
Fig. 35.
COLCHESTER. Colchester,
the
headquarters of
the
Royalists
in
the
eastern
was besieged by Fairfax from this time was defended by June August 17, Lords Capel and Norwich, associated with Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle, all of whom, with the exception of Norwich, were
counties during the rising of
1648,
and throughout
13 to
subsequently executed.
y->
K
FIG.
37.
COLCHESTER GOLD HALF-UNITE.
Colchester.
319
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
320
Coins were struck at
and there pence
this
town
exist the half-unite in
in the latter metal.
Half-unite.
Obverse.
in
two metals,
viz.,
gold and
They An embossed
:
representation
01
the
gateway of
OBS Colchester between the crowned letters Reverse.
silver,
the former and the shilling and nineare as follows
C R
;
beneath,
Incuse, the impression of the obverse die.
COL
rCCCCC~C~~" I6|48
>
Weight, 65^9 grains.
Fig- 37-
The
and ninepence, which occur struck upon circular and are both from the same die and can only be differen-
shilling
octagonal
flans,
tiated
their weights,
latter
FIG. 39.
by
since the former weighs
94 grains and the
only 66.
COLCHESTER SHILLING, ROUND.
These
which are
FIG. 40.
COLCHESTER SHILLING, OCTAGONAL.
have stamped upon them a representation of Colchester Castle, with five towers, and around are coins,
FIG. 41.
unifacial,
MODERN IMPRESSION FROM DIE OF COLCHESTER
SHILLING.
Pontefract.
the words,
Carolj
Fortuna
-,
l
resurgam., in script characters. The reverse shows incuse traces of the obverse The impression. original die for the above silver pieces, which measured about i| inches square, was discovered about 1780, and for a time was in the possession of Dr. Gifford, when restrikes were made in silver, which can only be from the the fact that the distinguished contemporary pieces, ;
:
by
reverses are quite plain (Fig. 41). It has been said that the die was subsequently deposited in the Bristol Public Library, but nothing is now known as to its whereabouts. The contemporary plan, here
reproduced,
very clearly explains the dispositions of the investing
forces (Fig. 36).
PONTEFRACT CASTLE. also known as Pomfret, Castle was on behalf of the king, by a colonel in the 2, 1648, forces of Sir Marmaduke Langdale, one John Morris or Maurice, who, with the aid of a few soldiers disguised as peasants, overcame the small
Pontefract, at this period
seized on June
garrison of this most important station, the key to the North. The castle was invested by Cromwell in the following autumn, who, however, left General Lambert to conduct the regular investment, the plan of which will be seen from the accompanying diagram, executed at the time of the siege. Pontefract successfully resisted all attacks and only yielded March 22, 1649, i.e., nearly two months after the execution of Charles I. Following the surrender, several officers, who had been excepted from "The Act of Grace," were executed, including the
commander,
Colonel John
prison, but loyally
Morris,
who might have escaped from
remained to succour a
fallen
comrade.
An
item of interest relating to this siege, the third and last sustained by Pontefract during the course of the Civil War, is that veterans accordingo to some authorities it was here that Cromwell's " were first known as Ironsides," a name, perhaps, by which they are best
remembered
Pomfret
at
the
may be grouped
duringo the reign o of Charles
VOL.
II.
present into I.
;
time.
two main
The
siege-coins struck at the one issued divisions ;
the other subsequently to his execution,
Y
322
The Obsidional Money of
the
Great Rebellion.
Pontefract.
and
in
name
the
successor,
for
the
garrison
son as King Charles II. the coins of Charles I. there occur two values,
piece and the
shilling.
Of
distinct varieties.
These
coins
shilling
two
his
C SPIRO
DVM
:
The gateway
Reverse.
R
Obverse.
Two-shillings.
:
viz.,
the two-
the latter denomination there exist
may be
described as follows
PONTEFRACT TWO-SHILLING
FIG. 43.
words
immediately
his
acknowledged
Of
of
323
:
PIECE.
beneath a large crown
;
around are the
SPERO.
of the castle, with a flag flying
from a central
above, OBS vertical to left, whilst a hand holding a sword protrudes from the right hand tower. Beneath is the date 1648.
tower,
This
shaped
P C
which weighs 1487 grains,
coin,
is
struck upon a lozenge-
flan (Fig. 43).
FIG. 44.
Shilling Reverse.
I.
Obverse.
As on
As on
PONTEFRACT SHILLING. the two-shilling piece.
the two-shilling piece.
which weighs 85 grains, occurs struck upon lozengeFor the striking of shaped, circular and octagonal flans (Fig. 44). the coin two obverse dies were in use, one having c R in large, and This
piece,
the other in small
letters.
Y 2
324
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
5 Ei-T;v-fi i*^ ' '^ik ^ ^^'' --':'
:
'
ij '
>-^>
J
^i y^m \ vj_ '
ki *J
*
-
v cr/> Av
-
'
gj
8? ^r*
^
*8
&-+'
*
*
~J *^
^^8%
^'J^^j^l
^^^fe
3
*>^^
.
i;
^-^ \
vsS r*
^^^^./z.- '^
"-
* >:,(.
"?"''
.'?''
/
i
PI
u
Pontefract.
trial
325
During excavations carried out at Pontefract Castle in 1882, a piece of the above shilling was discovered in the castle kitchen.
This piece, which the castle
somewhat corroded and
is
museum.
struck in
It is
preserved in lead and has upon both sides an indistinct,
is
impression of the reverse die.
FIG. 46.
Shilling II.
Reverse.
C R beneath SPIRO I SPERO.
Obverse.
DVM
is
PONTEFRACT SHILLING.
:
The
castle
central tower.
gateway as
OBS
a crown with jewelled band
before, but without the
flag
;
around
upon the
* to the
left.
XII
O
to the right,
and the date 1648
beneath.
This
coin,
which weighs 80 grains,
and lozenge-shaped
Of
is
struck upon both circular
flans (Fig. 46).
the coins struck on behalf of Charles
two denominations
II.
the unite and the shilling, the former being struck in Of the shilling there occur four distinct gold and the latter in silver. are found,
viz.,
varieties.
*^cl r
-
FIG.
47.
***'
mm
A
H
V
^
'
-\
-
^
^
f
PONTEFRACT GOLD UNITE, STRUCK FOR CHARLES
II.,
1648.
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
326
Beneath a large crown with jewelled band,
Obverse.
Unite.
DVM
SPIRO
:
The
Reverse.
PC
;
the
vertical, to the left
hand
right
SECVNDVS
R
C
around
;
SPERO.
gateway with a
castle
OBS
:
tower
flag
around
;
upon the central tower between
of the castle, a cannon projecting from are
the
CAROLVS
words,
\
1648
:
struck from circular dies, upon an octagonal It weighs only I38'5 grains, although the full weight
This unique coin flan (Fig. 47).
is
of the unite at this period
was 140*5
The
grains.
recent history
was presented by Bath King-of-arms, F. H. Barnewall, to Sir Thomas G. Cullum, Bart., and was for a number of His years on exhibition in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge. of this coin
that
is
it
grandson, Mr. G. Milner-Gibson-Cullum, exhibited it at the Stuart Exhibition of 1885, after which it passed into the collection of the late
for
At the sale of his collection, it was purchased Mr. Montagu. the late Mr. Murdoch, from whose cabinet, at its dispersal, it
came
into the possession
Shilling
FIG. 48.
of Messrs. Spink.
From
Obverse and Reverse.
I.
the
same
PONTEFRACT SHILLING, STRUCK FOR CHARLES
dies as the unite.
II.,
SECOND
ISSUE,
1648.
H ANC Obverse.
Shilling II.
Beneath a crown with jewelled band, VJT
:
DE
DEDIT
:
1648
CAROLVS
Around, Reverse.
The
:
II
gateway with
OBS
:
coin,
to the best of
:
P
C,
to the
hand tower, and around,
This
D
castle
of which,
FILIO
:
:
flag
MAC?
is
:
B
:
ET
I
H REX. :
on the central tower, on either side cannon projecting from the right
left,
a
POST
:
MORTEM
The mint mark, which precedes
which
my
G
in the collection
!
PATRIS
the legend,
of Miss
is
a
:
PRO
pistol.
Helen Farquhar,
knowledge unique, and weighs 79 grains
:
(Fig. 48).
is
Pontefract.
FIG.
PONTEFRACT SHILLING, STRUCK FOR CHARLES
49.
THIRD
II.,
ISSUE,
1648.
HANG DE :
Beneath a crown with a jewelled band,
Obverse.
Shilling III.
VS DEDIT \
1648
CAROL
Around,
:
II
:
D
I
G*
MAG*
:
I
S
F
:
:
ET
H
:
The
Reverse.
:
R
:
P
castle gateway, with flag upoivthe central tower, D, on either side of the flag, to the left, a cannon projecting from the
OBS
hand tower
right
FILIO This
around,
;
POST
The mint mark, which
!
which
piece,
I
PATRIS
precedes the legend,
is
PRO
:
:
a coronet.
a
is struck upon an octagonal flan the collection of the city of Liverpool, in the cabinet of the Rev. Henry Christmas.
is
It weighing 80 grains. previous to which it was
MORTEM
I
uniqu
is
,
in
.v
FIG.
PONTEFRACT SHILLING OF CHARLES
50.
Obverse
IV.
Shilling
HANG"; DE VS DEDIT I
II.,
LAST ISSUE.
Beneath a large crown with a furred
Around,
CAROL
I
II
:
D
I
G
:
MAG*
band,
B
:
:
F
I
"1648
ET
:
H
:
REX.
-The castle gateway, with flag upon the central tower, P C, on from the either side of the flag, OBS to the left, a cannon protruding
Reverse.
hand tower FILIO. right
;
around,
POST
:
MORTEM
:
PATRIS
:
PRO
:
The Obsidional Money of the Great
328
Rebellion.
This piece, which weighs 83 grains, always occurs struck upon
A
unique proof of this coin, preserved octagonal blanks (Fig. 50). As it weighs only 94 grains, in the National Collection, exists in gold. it
it
is
impossible for
it
to
have been intended
to
circulate as a unite, for
would have been 36^5 grains under the standard weight. The subjoined lines, extracted from a contemporary journal, are of
considerable interest, being as they are the only extant printed notice we have of English obsidional money.
The Kingdom's
Faithful and Impartial Scout,
February 2-9, 1648-9.
Monday, February
5th.
The intelligence from Pontefract is this, " The besieged have lately made two sallies forth, but repulsed without any great loss to us. In the last they killed but one man of ours, and we took two of theirs one of which had a small parcel of silver in his pocket On the one side thereof was stamped a castle with square. Pontefract, and on the other side was the crown with C R on
prisoners,
;
somewhat
PO
for
each side of
it.
These pieces were made of plate, which country, and pass among them for coyn.
the)-
get
out of the
With
the description of the coins struck at Pontefract we arrive at the close of the series of siege coins issued in England during the Civil \\ ar,
and
I
will
obsidional coins and
same
now
pass on to the consideration of the various moneys of necessity current in Ireland about the
period, viz., 1641-1649.
IRISH SIEGE-COINS. month of October, 1641, the native Irish, under Phelim O'Neill, rose in open rebellion against the English, whom, on October 23, 1641, they massacred to the number of forty thousand, sparing In the
neither age, rank, nor sex.
KILKENNY. Banding themselves together, they proceeded to establish their " government at Kilkenny, under the title of The Confederated
seat of
Kilkenny. Catholics,"
and
329
immediately arrogated to themselves many regal
prerogatives, including the striking of money, proposing at the same time to establish an order of knighthood in honour of St. Patrick.
The
pieces so minted by the Confederated Catholics are of copper and silver of the former metal there exist halfpence and farthings, whilst of the latter a half-crown alone would appear to have been ;
The copper pieces were minted under the terms " The Confederated Catholics," assembled at of the proclamation of Kilkenny, November 15, 1642, which ordered, "that there shall be issued at this period.
4,000
Ibs.
harp and It is
of red copper coyned to farthings and halfpence with the the crown on one side and two Scepters on the other." obvious that the design of these pieces was obtained from
the regal farthing tokens of this reign to which they are as superior in weight as they are inferior in execution. They are as follows :
Xo.
I.
two sceptres Reverse.
CAROLVS D
Obverse.
:
between
C
\
FIG.
II.
two Reverse
:
MAC?
BRI.
I
Within a
circle
:
REX.
Within a
circle,
a crowned harp
R.
The mint mark which
Xc.
C?
through a crown.
in saltire
FRAN ET HIBER :
:
Obverse.
occurs upon both sides
is
KILKENNY HALFPENNY.
51.
CAROLVS D :
I
C?
:
MAC?
:
BRI.
a crown. sceptres in saltire through
FRA ET HIB REX. \
mint marks.
:
Fig. 51.
a harp.
:
Within a
circle,
Within a
circle,
a crowned harp.
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
330
The weight
of these halfpence
being about the average.
Owing
varies
considerably, 75 grains to the coarseness of design and
roughness of their execution, it is only rarely that specimens are to be met with which show the complete design, though there were in the
Mr. R. A. Hoblyn three pieces, two octagonal which displayed the entire impression.
collection of the late
and one
circular,
FIG.
KILKENNY HALFPENCE VARIOUSLY COUNTERMARKED
52.
As
a consequence of those imperfections forgeries became very frequent, and we now meet with examples variously countermarked
genuine pieces from the contemporary countermarks five castles arranged exist following forgeries. a shield bearing a castle over the letter K, and like a cinquefoil in
order to
the
distinguish
The
;
;
lastly a capital
K
within a shield-shaped indent (Fig. 52).
FIG.
KILKENNY FARTHING.
53.
FARTHING. Obverse.
CARO D I
:
G
:
MAG"
:
BRI.
Two
sceptres in saltire through
a crown.
Reverse.
FRA ET HIB REX. A :
mint mark.
These struck, and
:
crowned harp between
C
R.
No
Fig. 53.
was the case with the halfpence, are very badly very infrequently that we meet with specimens bearing
farthings, as it is
:
Weight, 34 grains.
the entire design.
The Blacksmith's Halfcrowtis.
Kilkenny:
FIG.
54.
33'
COPPER COIN COUNTERMARKED KILKENNY.
In addition to the copper currency struck at this town we also few pieces of copper, countermarked in order
KILKENNY
find not a
to render
By
them current
at this place (Fig. 54).
the excellent researches of Dr.
satisfactorily enabled also to assign
which from
November
Smith we are now
Kilkenny those
their rudeness of execution are
known
as
"
silver pieces
Blacksmith's
struck at Kilkenny to the amount of 4,000 " ordinance The Confederated of Catholics." following 15, 1642, ''the plate of this kingdom be coined with the
Halfcrowns."
under the
to
Aquilla
They were
ordinarie stamp used in the moneyes now currant." Hence it would appear that the coin so issued is the piece described
below.
FIG-
ijij.
BLACKSMITH'S HALFCROWN.
HALFCROWN. Odvfrse.-CA.-ROL.-VS
D
MA
BR
FRA ET HI REX
to the left, with a sword over his equestrian figure of the King, is a broad Upon the housings of the wooden-like horse right shoulder. cross. Mint mark, is a head its cross and upon plume.
Rude
Reverse.'
CHRISTO
AVSPICE
a garnished shield between 222'6 grains.
Fig. 55.
C
The Royal Arms upon Mint mark, a harp. Weight,
RE(?NO R.
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
332
Many
varieties exist
which
of which the following occur
D D D D D
CAROLVS CAROL VS CAROLVS CAROLVS CAROLVS
G*
G*
MA
G* G*
coins
C
R, as follows
:
C
FRA ET HIB REX FRA ET HIB RE FR ET HIB REX BR FR ET HI REX BR FR ET HI REX BRI BRI BRI
C
H,
C
B.
was evidently obtained from the
There
is
in
were employed which vary the
distinct dies
R,
obverse reading,
:
MAG* MAG* MAG* MAG*
G*
For the reverse three letters
differ in respect to the
Mr. C. A. Watters an
of
the collection
The design for these ill-executed Tower Halfcrown of Charles I.
Ormond
sixpence, countermarked upon the reverse with a k within a shieldshaped indent, and this piece was doubtless so stamped in order to
render
it
w ar 1641-1643.
current at Kilkenny during the
r
Ordinance.
October 2/th, 1642. It is this day ordered by the assembly, that there shall be a seal in this kingdom, for sealing and attesting such matters as shall be ordered, etc. is this day ordered, that every person or or persons whatsoever, talking discoursing in writing or otherwise of the enemies, shall not call them by the name or names of English or
October 29th, 1642.
Protestants,
but
shall
It
call
by the name
them
of
Puritanical
or
Malignant party.
November
ist,
1642.
It
is
this
day ordered, by
this
great
assembly that the (undernamed) committee shall consider of and lay down a model of civil government within this kingdom, etc.
November
1642.
I5th,
generals, etc., shall lay
It
is
down a model
established in this kingdom, etc. Ordered, that the plate of
this
day ordered, that all the government to be
for the martial
this
kingdom
be
coined with the
stamp used moneyes now currant. The supreme council shall nominate and appoint one or more agents to be imployed to his majesty, hereby to inform his majesty's highness of the motives and causes of raising this holy war, and other the grievances of this kingdom at this present.
ordinarie
in the
Ordered.
It is this day ordered by this assembly, that coin and plate shall be raised and established in this kingdom, according to the rates and
Inchquin Money. values hereafter mentioned, and that there shall be forthwith coined the sume of four thousand pound, to pass currant in and through this kingdom, according to a proclamation, or act published, by direction of this
assembly
in the city of
November
Kilkenny, and not otherwise, etc. The supreme council to take care, that the
iQth, 1642.
king's revenue be daily gathered up, for the for the use of the
November
making of a common stock
Kingdom.
It is ordered, That the right honourable the earl of Castlehaven, and such others as his lordship shall call to his assistance, shall present unto the supreme council of this kingdom an
2ist, 1642.
and order of knighthood, concerning the honour of Saint and the glory of this kingdom, which the supreme council may confirm and ratify so far as they see cause. institution
Patrick,
INCHQUIN MONEY.
On
January 5, 1642-3, an Act empowered Lord Inchquin, VicePresident of Munster, to issue silver coins of various denominations, struck from plate, which the well affected were directed to bring to the
which plate five shillings per ounce was offered. Payment of this, however, was to be deferred, but interest at the rate of eight per centum per annum was to be paid as an inducement to the people to bring in their riches. mint at Dublin,
The
coins
proclamation are
and
for
issued
accordance
in
now known
as
"
the
above-mentioned
Inchquin money," and
grouped into three main classes according
The
with
may be
to their design.
issue consists of coins struck in gold and in silver, which both obverse and reverse, have the weight of the coins pieces, upon indicated in pennyweights and grains, within a circle. first
GOLD. Double
''
pistole.
and the inner Reverse.
Of
Obverse.-^ 14 gr
within a double
circle,
:
linear.
Similar to the obverse.
this piece only
Weight, 205 grains.
two specimens are known.
the outer beaded
Obsidional
334
FIG.
Money of
Obverse.
I.
7_
r
7
Great Rebellion.
INCHQUIN PISTOLE IN GOLD.
56.
'
Pistole
the
within a double circle, the outer beaded and the
:
inner linear. Reverse. II.
Similar to the obverse.
/ within a double
T-
Obverse.
Weight, 103 grains. circle,
Fig. 56.
the outer beaded and the inner
fc>
linear.
Reverse.
"+
/
/ within
a double circle, the outer beaded and the inner
t>
Weight, 102 grains.
linear.
SILVER. Crown
I.
Obverse.
?
fe
within two circles, the outer beaded and the
19.. .8
inner linear. Reverse.
Similar to the obverse.
FIG.
II.
XN
Obverse.
=
o
19
57.-
Weight, 462 grains.
INCHQUIN CROWN.
within a double circle, the outer beaded and the
inner linear. Reverse. III.
Similar to the obverse. *
Obverse.
;
19 Reverse.
o
Weight, 463 grains.
within a double beaded circle.
Similar to the obverse.
Weight, 461 grains.
Fig. 57.
Inchquin Money.
FIG.
IV.
*
Obverse.
58.
within
'|
335
INCHQUIN CROWN.
two
circles,
the outer beaded, the
inner
linear.
Similar to the obverse.
Reverse.
FIG.
V.
Weight, 460 grains.
INCHQUIN CROWN, RETROGRADE.
59.
within two
Obverse. 8
Fig. 58.
circles,
the outer beaded, the inner
i
linear.
Reverse.
It will
Similar to the obverse.
Weight, 464 grains.
be observed that the values on the dies
for this piece are
a retrograde manner which was doubtless oversight on the part of the engraver. Fig. 59.
engraved
in
Halfcrown
dwt; I.
Obverse.
and the inner Reverse.
^
w ithin
to
an
a double circle, the outer beaded
linear.
Similar to the obverse.
clue
Weight, 231 grains.
The Obsidional Money of the ,Great Rebellion.
336
II.
Obverse.
^
.'
INCHQU1N HALF-CROWN.
60.
FIG.
a double
within
circle,
the outer beaded and the
inner linear.
Similar to the obverse.
Reverse.
Shilling
o
:
Fig. 60.
'
fe
Obverse.
I.
Weight, 230 grains.
within a triple circle, the outer beaded, the
21
t\vo inner linear.
Reverse. II.
Similar to the obverse.
Obverse.
Reverse.
,
.
fT
^"ithin triple
Similar to the obverse.
An example
Weight, 93 grains.
beaded
circles.
Weight, 92 grains.
of this coin having the reverse blank occurs in the
National Collection.
FIG.
IXCHQUIN NINEPENCE.
6 I.
'
Ninepence.
Obverse. \J
two inner Reverse.
within a triple
Reverse.
the outer beaded, the
linear.
Similar to the obverse.
'
Sixpence.
circle,
Obverse. 1
Weight, 67 grains.
** / & & within a
Similar to the obverse.
double beaded
Weight, 46 grains.
Fig. 61.
circle.
Inchquin Money.
INCHQUIN GROAT.
FIG. 62.
Groat.
'
Obverse.
^
.'
within a double
g
337-
circle,
the outer beaded and the
inner linear.
Similar to the obverse.
Reverse.
The second
Weight, 29 grains.
issue similarly bears
Fig. 62.
upon the obverse the weight is expressed by the number
of the coin, but the value upon the reverse of annulets present.
SILVER.
w
Obverse.
Ninepence.
'
*> / ^\J within a
double
circle,
the outer beaded and
the inner linear.
Within a double
Reverse.
Sixpence.
.
the outer beaded and the inner linear,
Weight, 68 grains.
nine annulets.
FIG
circle,
63.
Obverse.
INCHQUIN SIXPENCE, SECOND
dwt
:
.
g ";
within a double
ISSUE.
circle,
the outer beaded and
the inner linear.
W ithin T
Reverse.
annulets.
Groat.
a double
circle,
the outer beaded and the inner linear, six
Weight, 46 grains.
Obverse.***: f. within
Fig. 63.
a double circle, the outer beaded and the
inner linear.
Reverse.
Within a double
annulets.
VOL.
II.
circle,
Weight, 30 grains.
the outer beaded and the inner linear, four
The Obsidional Money of
338
Obverse.
Threepence. Reverse.
^ '.
the Great Rebellion.
within a beaded
circle.
m
Within
double
a
beaded
three
circle,
annulets.
Weight,
21 grains.
Of
the threepenny piece only three examples are
now known.
Upon the third and last coinage the value is expressed in Roman numerals both upon the obverse and reverse and the issue, which consists of crowns and half-crowns, is as follows :
FIG.
Crown.
Obverse.
64.
INCHQUIN CROWN, THIRD
V.s within
ISSUE.
a double circle, the outer beaded
and the
inner linear. Reverse.
Similar to the obverse.
FIG.
65.
Weight, 463 grains.
INCHQUIN CROWN, RETROGRADE, THIRD
Several varieties of this coin exist
:
for
Fig. 64.
ISSUE.
example, the die for the
coin illustrated in Fig. 65 has been engraved in a retrograde manner.
FIG. 66.
INCHQUIN HALF-CROWN, THIRD
ISSUE.
Inchquin Money. D
S
Half-crown.
Obverse.
II-VI within a double
circle,
the outer beaded and
the inner linear.
Similar to the obverse.
Reverse.
Weight, 230 grains.
Fig. 66.
Ordinance.
we
Whereas
lords-justices, and council!, for the reasons or order of this board, dated the fifth day of this act, expressed that we find it of absolute moneth, declared, necessity for the reliefe of in
the
an
the officers of army, that (in this case of extremity wherein we now stand, and in the said act or order of this board is more fully expressed)
manner of persons of what condition or qualitie soever dwelling in the city or suburbs of Dublin, as well within the liberties as without, within ten daies next after publication of the said order, doe deliver or all
cause to be delivered half or more of
his,
her or their plate to William
Bladen, of Dublin, alderman, and John Pue, one of the sheriffes of the same city, taking their hand for receipt thereof, to the end use may be
made
thereof for the present reliefe of the said
officers.
And
this
board by the said order did give the word and assurance of his majestic and this state, that as soone as the treasure shall arrive forth of England, due satisfaction shall be made after the rate of five such plate as it true tuch, and the true value not of such tuch to the owner thereof, together with
shillings the ounce, for
of such as
it
consideration for forbearance for the same, after the rate of eight in pound per cent, per Annum or otherwise, that the parliament England according to their severall manifests in England in that ;
behalf, shall
as
will see the same accordingly paid, and for as much that there are divers of his majesties good subjects in
and
we conceive
the county of Dublin who have the like good affections for his majestic and his service, as the said inhabitants of the city and suburbs of
Dublin have, and therefore we conceive they would be loath to be and on the same security, deprived or forclosed of the same meanes, for his majestic and his affections for expressing those their good well to doe them the as we therefore, service upon this occasion to express their readines and favour to give them opportunity and advancement furtherance the forwardnes in this particular, as for fit hereby to declare and of his majesties service therein, have thought of Dublin, and countie the in order, that they the said good subjects of more or his, her or their in halfe every of them, that shall bring received and be shall service aforesaid ;
plate,
for
the necessarie
and on the same admitted so to doe, with the same favour and respect, Dublin are or of suburbs in the cittie and securitie that those dwelling
Z 2
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
34O
shall be,
and with
inlargement of time and manner of doing
this
it
to
both, that they may within ten dayes next after the date hereof, deliver or cause to be delivered to the said William Bladen, and John
Pue, halfe or more of his, her, and their plate as aforesaid, taking their hands for receipt thereof, that the said William Bladen and John Pue doe meet every day (except the sabbath day) at the dwelling house of the said William Bladen, scituate in Castle-street, in Dublin, and there continue every forenoon from nine till eleven of the clock, and every afternoon from two till four of the clock, there to receive the said plate,
and
acknowledgements of the receipts thereof expressing the parties name from whom it comes, and the waight tuch, and value thereof, and it being intended that due satisfaction shall be made for the said plate to the owners thereof, after the rate of five shillings the ounce, for such plate as is true tuch, and the true value of such as is to give
not of such tuch, together with consideration for forbearance of the same after the rate of eight pounds per cent, per annum we thinke fit that the said William Bladen, and John Pue doe call to their assistance
Tongues and Peter Vandenhoven, who with the said William Bladen and John Pue are to view the said plate, and the value thereof at the deliverie thereof as aforesaid, and to observe and try the tuch of every parcell of plate, so to be delivered as aforesaid, and by writing" under their hands, and to be written under the acknowledgement to be given by the said William Bladen and John Pue for receipt thereof, to And we docertiffie the tuch and value of every such parcell of Plate. word and of his and the assurance this state, that majestic hereby give as soone as treasure shall arrive forth of England, due satisfaction shall Gilbert
be made to the respective owners of such plate, after the rate of five shillings the ounce, for such plate as shall be so certified as aforesaid, to be true tuch,
and the true value according as the same
shall
be
not of such tuch together with consideration for forbearance for the same as aforesaid or otherwise, of such as
certified as aforesaid
is
;
that the parliament in England, according to their several manifests in England in that behalfe shall and will see the same accordingly paid.
And we
doubt not that
all
persons
who
are able, will
now
express such
cheerfulnesse and forwardnesse herein, as may testifie the true sense they have of the present occasion^ and the desires they have to advance the
publike service, for the good and safety of this kingdome, and of their
own persons and take
in
good part
estates therein,
which and
at their hands,
And we
his majestic
and
will retaine
a
this state will
memory
thereof
require the maior and sheriffes of the city of Dublin forthwith to cause this our order to be published and proclaimed in, and throughout the said cittie, and suburbs of Dublin, for their advantage.
Ormond Money. that
all
persons concerned therein
at his majesties castle of
may
take notice thereof.
Given
Dublin the I4th day of January, 1642.
ORMOND MONEY. Upon May
King wrote from Oxford, where he then was, to the Lords Justices of Ireland, referring to the coining of silver
1643, th e
25,
money from
The
plate.
contents of this letter subsequently
appeared as a proclamation on July
8,
1643, namely
:
We the lords-justices and councell having received his majesties most gracious letters of the 25th of May, 1643, under his highness hand and signature, the tenor whereof is as hereafter follovveth, viz.
:
Charles R.
Right trusty and right well-beloved councellors, we greet you into our princely consideration, that by reason of this most barbarous and bloudy rebellion in Ireland, our good subjects there are reduced to that extreme penurie, that now (as their last
all
;
we taking
helpe and refuge) they are inforced and desirous to have such little plate as they have left them, to be coined for their reliefe, into some
of monie that might passe currant in exchange both there and in our kingdome of England, and that the quantity of plate or bullion there so to be melted down and coined, is of so
small
peeces
small and inconsiderate value, that
it
is
not
worth the charges of
erecting a mint there, according to our former intentions, which would likewise take up more time then their present and pressing necessityes will
permit,
we
are
therefore graciously pleased for the
our good subjects there, to require and authorize you, to issue forth one or more commission or commissions, under the great scale of that our realme, unto such persons or person as you shall thinke fit, thereby authorizing him or them to melt down such plate, releefe of
into coyne, bullion or silver, as shall be brought unto him or them, small peeces, to the value of five shillings, halfe-crowns, twelve-pences, small peeces they six-pences, or of any less value, which several our moneys now as and shall make the same waight, value allay,
currant in England of those value respectively are, and shall stamp the same on the one side, with these letters (scilicet) C. R. for with a crown over those letters, and on the other side Carolus
Rex,
with the values of the said severall peeces respectively, and the same to redeliver to the bringers of the plate, coyne so made and
stamped
bellion
or
silver,
hereby to make
so
all
and as further authorize you such peeces, as shall be so made, to be currant melted dovvne
;
The Obsidional Money of
34 2
Great Rebellion.
the
there, we intending to make the same currant in our kingdome, and that you appoint such allowances unto the said person or persons, for their so coyning of the said peeces, as you
by proclamation
this
them good and and deliverie of security making in and as our said value as the moneys allay, peeces weight, good of the like value now currant in England are, so that no fraud or abuse be done to our people herein and for your so doeing, these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant. Given under our signet, and at our court of Oxford the twentiefifth day of May, 1643. shall
thinke convenient,
and
for their
sufficient
that
you
take
of
true melting,
;
By
his majesties
command, Edward Nicholas.
And whereas by his majesties commission under the great scale of this kingdom, bearing date the seventh day of this month, in the nineteenth yeare of his majesties raigne, Sir John Veale, knight, Peter Vandenhoven and Gilbert Tongues, gold-smiths, are authorized to melt, or cause to be
melted downe, such plate, coine, bullion or them, into small peeces, according and whereof an eight part is to be
silver, as shall be brought unto to his majesties said directions,
and whereas the said Three-pences and Two-pences John Veale, Peter Vandenhoven and Gilbert Tongues, have entred into recognizance, of two thousand pounds sterling, for the true making of the said peeces of the same weighe, value and allay, as his majesties moneys, now currant in England, of those values respectively are, and in
Groats,
;
Sir
such peeces unto the bringers of plate, coyne, or whereof the same shall be made, they first receiving bullion, silver, for the coyning thereof, the summe of three shillings for every pound
for the redelivery of
weight, every pound weight being three pound of sterling money, according to the weight of the tower of London, so to be melted down
and so after the same rate for a greater or lesser proportion, and no more. Now we the Lords Justices and councell, according to.
or coyned,
his majesties
to us signified as aforesaid, doe, by this his proclamation majesties name, publish and declare, that all such as shall be peeces, by them the said Sir John Veale, Peter
good pleasure, so in
Vandenhoven, and Gilbert Tongues, melted or caused to be melted down, or coyned, according to his majesties said letters, and commission, doe and shall presently after the publishing of this proclamation, be currant money of and in this kingdom, and doe and shall passe as currant money in all exchanges and payments, as well of debts, as for any wares, merchandises or other commodities whatsoever. And we require the maior and sheriffs of the city of Dublin to cause
Ormond Money.
343
proclamation to be forthwith published and proclaimed throughout and suburbs. Given at his majesties castle of Dublin, the
this
this citty
eight of July, 1643.
The coins issued under the terms of the above proclamation are now known as Ormond money, the Viceroy at that period 1643, being James, Marquis of Ormond. Pieces of seven denominations,
viz.,
crowns, half-crowns, shillings,
sixpences, groats, threepenny pieces and half-groats were struck, the last of which is of considerable rarity. The general design of these coins, which weigh from 456 to i
s
*J
grains, according O to their denomination, O
R
C
Obverse.
is
as follows
beneath a crown, within a double
beaded and the inner linear. Within a similar double
Reverse.
circle,
circle,
Crown
I.
ORMOND CROWN WITH ORNAMENTED
67.
C
Obverse.
R.
c\
s
Reverse.
II.
V, a
Obverse.
to the S. spiral termination
C
R.
s
Reverse.
III.
V, the S
Obverse.
plain.
C*
R.
s
Reverse.
V, the S small.
Fig. 68.
the outer being
the value expressed in
numerals.
FIG.
:
Fig. 67.
S.
Roman
Tke Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
344
FIG.
IV.
C
Obverse.
68.
ORMOND CROWN WITH PLAIN
S.
R.
.*.
s
Re-verse.
V, the S has curved ends.
Half-crown Reverse.
II.
D
II
vi.
Obverse.
C
FIG.
69.
C
Obverse.
Reverse.
III.
I.
S
S
D
II
vi.
IV.
#
vi,
C
S
D
II
vi,
C
Obverse.
Reverse.
A R.
D
Obverse.
Reverse.
V.
II
ORMOND HALF-CROWN.
Fig. 69.
S
Reverse.
R.
A R.
C
Obverse.
Weight, 456 grains.
S
D
II
vi,
spiral
ends to
S.
A R.
as III, but figures shorter.
A R. figures thinner.
Weight, 227 grains.
Fig. 70.
Onnond Money.
FIG.
Shilling Re-verse.
Obverse.
I.
D XII.
ORMOND HALF-CROWN, PLAIN
70.
C
Obverse.
TYPE.
R.
Fig. 71.
FIG.
II.
345
C
71.
ORMOND
SHILLING.
R, letters smaller.
D Reverse.
III.
XII,
Obverse.
a pellet after X.
C
R, letters small.
D Reverse.
XII, large figures.
FIG.
There No.
is
in
72.
ORMOND SHILLING BEARING HALL-MARK.
Mr. C. A. Walters an example of of plate, obviously cut direct from a piece
the cabinet of
struck upon a flan, since in addition to the design II,
it
bears on the flan the lion passant
The Obsidional Money of
346
the Great Rebellion.
together with the letter jj, the date letter of Goldsmiths' Hall, London, This coin is of considerable interest since it proves for the year 1625. that all the plate was not melted down for the purpose of the coinage the terms of the proclamation, but that in cut direct from the plate. 1 Fig. 72. in
FIG.
Sixpence
cases the flans were
ORMOND SIXPENCE DOUBLE STRUCK.
73.
C
Obverse.
I.
many
R.
D Reverse.
VI.
Fig. 73.
C R, large letters. Obverse. D Reverse. VI, figures large. II.
FIG.
III.
Obverse.
C
74.
ORMOND
SIXPENCE.
R, large letters, no dot.
D Reverse.
VI, large
FIG.
75.
1
figures.
Weight, 46 grains.
ORMOND SIXPENCE BEARING HALL-MARK
See also the
Ormond
sixpence, Fig. 75.
Ormond Money. There
is
in the national collection a sixpence
which bears upon the reverse the
347
weighing 43 grains an English
lion passant, a portion of
1
hall-mark.
Fig. 75.
The Ormond which
is
sixpence in the collection of Mr. C. A. Walters countermarked upon the reverse with a it within a shield-
shaped indent was, as already suggested, no doubt so stamped by the " " Confederated Catholics at Kilkenny in 1643, to render it current at that place.
Groat
2
I.
C
Obverse.
R.
D Reverse. II.
IIII, in thick letters.
C
Obverse.
R.
D Reverse. III.
C
Obverse D
Reverse.
IV.
IIII, in thick letters.
R.
IIII, in thin letters.
C
Obverse.
R, large
letters.
D Reverse.
IIII,
I.
Threepence
D
large.
Obverse.
Weight, 30 grains.
C
R
D Reverse. II.
III, small letters.
Obverse.
CA
R.
D Reverse.
III, small letters.
R. C. Obverse. D Reverse. III, large. III.
IV.
Obverse
Reverse.
C
R.
Ill, III large, D small.
FIG.
76.
Weight, 22 grains.
ORMOND HALF-GROAT. '
'
Compare
the
Ormond
shilling, Fig. 72-
See
?*&
332
'
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
348
Obverse.
I.
Half-groat
C
R.
D Reverse. II.
I "I, large.
C
Obverse
Fig. 76.
R.
D Reverse.
II, large.
C R. Obverse. D Reverse. II, II large, D small. III.
Weight, 14 grains.
Not a few examples of the Ormond coinage are copper thickly plated with silver
;
to
be found
in
these were no doubt contemporary
forgeries.
In the collection of
Mr. Lionel Fletcher are two
unstruck, weighing about
85 grains, which
prepared for the making of
Ormond
appear
to
silver flans,
have been
shillings.
REBEL MONEY. During the year 1643, but previously to September 15, when " " peace was declared, the pieces known as Rebel money would probably be issued, and Catholics"
at
" supposed that they were struck by the Confederated These coins were apparently designed in Kilkenny.
it is
the pieces issued from Dublin by James, Marquis of which, as regards the reverse at least, they somewhat
imitation of
Ormond, resemble.
The
1
issue consisted of coins of
two denominations,
and half-crowns.
FIG.
77. 1
THE REBEL CROWN. Vide page 343.
viz.,
crowns
Rebel Money. Obverse. A large cross potent within a double being beaded and the inner linear mint mark, a star.
Crown.
circle,
the outer
;
s
V, the S having spiral ends within a similar double Weight, 376 grains. Fig. 77.
Reverse.
On
the coin illustrated the outer circle
is
circle.
omitted on both obverse
and reverse.
A
variety of obverse.
the crown occurs with
FIG.
Half-crown.
Obverse.
A
a double mint mark, a star.
cross potent within ;
circle,
the outer
D
IIVI, within
Reverse.
on the
pellet
THE REBEL HALF-CROWN.
78.
being beaded and the inner linear S
mint mark
a
similar
double
circle.
Weight,
188
grains.
Fig. 78.
be remembered that the Blacksmith's half-crown issued by the "Confederated Catholics" at Kilkenny in 1642, bore upon the It will
obverse a cross potent as a mint mark.
1
During the years 1646-1647, the following towns, viz., Bandon, his Kinsale, Youghal and Cork, were defended for the King by Munster.
Coins were issued
adherents
in
which
be thus described.
may
1
P/ltfepage 331.
at
all
these strongholds
The Obsidional Money of
350
tke Great Rebellion.
BANDON.
FIG.
Farthing. Reverse.
B
Obverse.
Three
30 grains.
BANDON FARTHING.
79.
B, within a circle of lozenges.
castles,
one and two, within a similar
circle.
Weight,
Fig. 79.
which occurs struck upon an octagonal copper flan, is of very rude execution, and the letters B B, upon the obverse no doubt indicate Bandon Bridge, which was the original name of the town. This
coin,
KINSALE.
Farthing Reverse. II.
I.
A
Obverse.
Reverse.
The
A
FIG.
80.
K
S
Obverse.
chequered
K
S
shield.
KINSALE FARTHING. within a circle of pellets.
Weight, 35 grains.
within a dotted
circle.
shield bearing fourteen pellets.
coins are both struck
Weight, 50 grains.
upon square copper
the rudest execution.
YOUGHAL. FARTHINGS.
FIG. 8 1.
Fig. So.
YOUGHAL FARTHING.
flans
and are of
Youghal. No.
i.
Obverse.
bird
Y
facing to
351
T, beneath which is the date 1646, and above is a the left the whole within a double linear circle. ;
Weight, 14 grains.
A galley, enclosed
Reverse.
FIG.
No.
2.
Obverse.
Y
within a double linear
82.
circle.
Fig. 81.
YOUGHAL FARTHING.
T, above which
a bird within a double linear
is
circle.
Weight, 15 grains. Reverse.
A
galley enclosed by a double dotted
FIG.
No.
3.
Obverse.
Reverse.
A
Y
4.
is
the date 1646.
galley enclosed by double linear
Obverse.
Y
84.
A
circles.
is
by double
the date 1646, and above linear circles.
.Fig. 84.
FIG.
85.
Weight, 54 grains.
Fig. 83.
YOUGHAL FARTHING.
T, beneath which
facing to the right. Reverse. galley enclosed
Fig. 82.
YOUGHAL FARTHING.
T, beneath which
FIG.
No.
83.
circle.
YOUGHAL FARTHING.
is
a bird
Weight, 27 grains.
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
352 No.
5.
Y
Obverse.
T, beneath which
is
the date 1646, and above a branch
Weight, 23 grains. A galley surrounded by a double linear
Reverse.
FIG.
No.
6.
No.
7.
Y
Obverse.
Reverse.
A
fish
8.
A
T, within a dotted circle.
With
circle.
Y
Obverse.
A
87.
T, in an elaborated circle enclosed by a circle of small
Weight, 25 grains.
shield bearing a galley, within a circle of triangles.
rude execution, and, save Fig. 86, which last, struck upon rectangular brass flans.
Reverse.
all is
the preceding coins are of circular, are, as is also the
TWOPENCE. __ ._ Io4t>
A
galley enclosed within a double
circle.
upon a rectangular brass flan. be noted that the arms of the city of Youghalare a punning also struck
is
name
allusion to the
of the town,
viz.,
a yawl or galley.
THREEPENCE. Obverse.
within a circle of dots.
j
Reverse.
Fig. 87.
II
This coin It will
Fig. 86.
YOUGHAL FARTHING.
the exception of the last piece
m Obverse.
Weight, 9 grains.
Y
triangles.
Reverse.
YOUGHAL FARTHING.
surrounded by a dotted
FIG.
No.
Fig. 85.
T, within two circles of pellets. Weight, 2O grains. galley on shield enclosed by a circle of triangular dots.
Obverse.
Reverse.
86.
circle.
CR
t*ACL> enclosed
This piece
is
by dotted
struck in pewter.
circle.
Cork.
35;
UNCERTAIN VALUE.
FIG.
R
Obverse.
C
Reverse.
Blank.
The
88.
COPPER COIN ATTRIBUTED TO YOUGHAL.
beneath a crown, within a circular indent. Fig. 88.
is formed from an indecipherable copper coin of Continental origin and is countermarked upon one side only. I have classed this coin with the Youghal pieces on account of its resemblance
flan
The
to the last piece described.
Ormond money
similar to the
design of the countermark
is
very
issued in 1643.
CORK. In the course of the year 1647, the city of Cork was besieged and coins were struck at this place in the month of May during the stay of
Lord Inchquin. Pieces
exist
of
four
denominations,
viz.,
sixpence,
shilling,
varieties occur. farthings, of which latter three
halfpenny and
SHILLING.
Kit
FIG. 89.
C
^^
Obverse.
CORK SHILLING.
within a double
circle,
the outer beaded and the inner
linear.
Reverse.
VOL.
II.
Large XII within beaded
circle.
Weight, 68 grains.
Fig. 89.
2
A
The Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion.
354
SIXPENCE.
FIG. 90.
Reverse.
As on
Obverse.
Large VI
For
CORK SIXPENCE.
the shilling, but beaded circle only. within a beaded circle. Weight, 34 grains.
were two reverse
this piece there
Fig. 90.
dies.
FARTHINGS.
FIG. 91.
No.
I.
CORK
Obverse.
Reverse.
A
This coin
CORK FARTHING.
within a dotted
circle.
castle within a dotted circle. is
struck
on a square
CORK
within a beaded
and weighs 35
flan,
grains.
Fig. 91.
No.
2.
Obverse.
Reverse.
A
This piece
is
struck upon a square
FIG.
No.
3.
Obverse.
92.
Corke (in
below are two branches, Reverse.
This
circle.
ship issuing from between two towers.
and weighs 41
grains.
CORK FARTHING.
italics) all
flan,
beneath
the head
within a dotted
of a
lion,
whilst
circle.
Blank.
coin,
which occurs
in brass,
weighs 57 grains.
Fig. 92.
Dublin.
355
HALFPENNY. Obverse.
CORK,
Reverse.
A
This
within a dotted
circle,
enclosing a linear.
castle.
piece,
which
is
in the
Fletcher Collection, occurs struck upon
a rectangular flan of copper, and weighs 84 grains.
FIG. 93.
We stamped
FOREIGN COPPER COIN COUNTERMARKED CORKE.
also find contemporary coins, both silver and copper, counterCORK or CORKE, and they were no doubt so overstruck for
currency during the siege.
FIG. 94.
Figs. 93 and 94.
SHILLING OF ELIZABETH COUNTERMARKED CORKE.
DUBLIN. AFTER THE DEATH OF CHARLES of Charles Subsequently to the execution
I.,
I.
money
of necessity
what date arid whence, no information which now exists. Two pieces occur, namely, crown and half-crown, are believed to have been struck at Dublin in 1649 by James, Marquis in Ireland. of Ormond, who proclaimed Charles II. as King 2 A 2
was issued
in Ireland
though
at
The Obsidional Money of
356
FIG.
Crown.
95.
Great Rebellion.
DUBLIN CROWN OF CHARLES
CAR
Obverse.
the
D
II
MAG*
G"
I
II.
BRIT, m. m.
lys
surrounding an arched crown. Reverse.
FRA
a linear
circle,
FIG.
HYB
ET m. m.
96.
lys.
REX
F D
s
and enclosing
Weight, 329 grains.
DUBLIN HALF-CROWN OF CHARLES
Obverse and Reverse.
Weight, 164 grains.
There are two
As on
within
Fig. 95.
II.
S
Half-crown.
V
the crown, but II
D
VI
for value.
Fig. 96.
dies for the reverse of the half-crown.
description of these Irish siege-coins we complete the record so far as our present knowledge extends, of the various coins
With the
issued during the great Civil War. In conclusion I desire to thank so
much
particular
all
those
assistance in preparing this
work
I
would thank the following
:
who have rendered me for publication,
and
in
Dublin.
357
The
Proprietors of the Connoisseur for the use of Figs. Messrs. Spink and 13, 19, 22, 29, 33, 35, 38-40, 45, 48-50
5, 9,
10,
Son
for
Murray
for
;
Figs.
15,
17,
1
8,
20,
21,
23,
24,
44,
47;
Mr.
John
map England illustrating the Civil War Messrs. Longmans for the plan of the siege of Colchester, and Messrs. Thurnam of Carlisle for the three contemporary views of that city. I also wish the loan of the
of
;
thank Mr. Cornelius Brown
block which portrays Newark Castle and also Dr. Appleby of Newark for the use of his coins in
to
must express my those members of the British Numismatic Society
illustrating the coins issued
grateful thanks to
for the
who
at that city.
Finally
I
so generously contributed to the exhibition of Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion on January 18, 1905, on which date I read this
paper to the Society.
Meeting, January \%th, 1905.
Brown
&
had a
Co.
443
on
distillery
the
ShannoX
in
Limerick, which some thirty years ago passed into the possession of Messrs. Walker and Son. T#is token
was a
tally
used by the firm
in the Distillei
,
H/JIPJO;,
:<,
1
PRIVATE TOKEN OF JOHN ARNOTT AND CO. 3.
Private token\in copper, farming
ARNOTT & etc.,
6^.,
around;'
in four lineV
PAYABLE
AND CORK, a robe .between ONE FARTHING ijAwo lines. Mr.
W. Machado
^aish.
roses
throughout,
JOHN
two
IN
pellets
Sir
;
BELFAST in
exergue & Co.
John Arnott
Drapers in Ireland. (X) William I., penny of
Cambridge Mi/t, Hawkins with
:
SILK MERCERS DRAPERS,
Reverse:
are a well-known frrm o
Obverse
size.
37
as
;
(2)
stops \. m
Testoon da^ed/^IT)L, mint
tl
Henr)| VIIj
;
r
*'\'
V
marl\\Q.V(\j.)
James
I.,
two
wlairVcrosM'' (5\ Charles I., shilling gold half-crowns, / .^^*Sw' P \^v v mint. and sixpence\pf trie\J5Mtol MWal'or Badge. On the obverse engraved Mr. W. Wells. /*"
We/stand firm lov<
to each other,"
and friendship.
and on the reverse
"
In
Sir Robert Black, Knight of the
Pr/vy Seal of Lascey.
August
i4th, 1749."
INSCRIBED SCEATTA.
Sceatta.
Obverse
degraded head Sceatta.
A
:
bust
to right
+ LEDNG.
Reverse:
to left.
variety of
B.M.
catalogue, Plate VI, No. 12.
Proceedings of the Society.
444
Siege Pieces.
The
described by Dr. Nelson in of this volume, the principal
more
following coins are
fully
Paper commencing on page 291 specimens, many of which are unique, being
his
illustrated.
Circular. Obverse Carlisle shilling. Miss H. Farquhar. C R. Reverse in three lines under a large crown
:
:
:
XII
DBS'
CARL,
above, a rosette,
Ruding XXVIII.
cf.
3.
645
Newark.
Set of four pieces, namely, half-crown, and ninepence, of 1645, from the Murdoch sale,
ex Thorburn,
lot 176,
Ruding XXVIII,
7, 8,
shilling, lot 344,
and sixpence 1646, half-crown, cf. The ninepence reads 9 and 10.
NEWARKE. Three
Pontefract Castle. i.
different octagonal shillings
:
Ruding XXIX, 10, ex Murdoch, Bergne, Brice and Montagu collections. Obverse large crown above C R around, DVM
Before death of Charles
I.
as
'
:
:
:
;
SPIRO SPERO
:
within
Reverse
circle.
on central tower, P.C. above on left, vertical: on right, a hand holding sword;
with flag
OBS
a castle,
:
;
below, 1648.
A RARE PONTEFRACT SHILLING.
2.
After death
Obverse
DEBIT,
of Charles
I.,
crown
as
Ruding XXIX,
above
large 1648, in three lines; :
HANC
around,
13.
DEVS CAROLVS :
:
Meeting, January i8M. II
D
:
G
:
Reverse
PC
;
MAG
:
B
:
1905.
ET
:
3.
After
on
OBS
left,
vertical
SPIRO earlier
:
:
on
;
I.,
as
SPERO,
cannon
Ruding XXIX,
with
before,
:
King on horseback, sword over the shoulder. Horse
directed
shield
:
divides
shield
garnished, retrograde and reversed.
Ormonde money.
Seven Obverse
Reverse
CH,
pieces,
:
R
the
oval
being
from crown to
large crown over CR, the outer beaded. Reverse value in
inclusive.
numerals,
:
PC,
flag
CAROLUS
but
trappings decorated with large cross.
Roman
:
12.
DVM
around,
;
a castle
:
as
Obverse
circles,
PATRIS
1648 around.
:
Blacksmith half-crown.
hand
:
rather smaller letters than the
in
Reverse
type.
SECUNDVS
twopence within two
circle.
mouth of
right,
C R
larger crown over
and
OBS,
Set of
within
:
death of Charles
right
REX
Around, POTT MORTEM FILIO. See also p. 326, Fig. 48.
Obverse
in
:
a castle with flag on central tower, above,
:
cannon.
PRO
H
:
445
:
:
Ruding XXVII,
8, 9,
10,
u,
12,
13.
CORK SIEGE-SHILLING.
Dr.
Philip
Nelson.
Countermarked Cork
shilling,
and the
coins illustrated on the following page.
Mr. Oswald Fitch.
Murdoch
Ormonde
Charles
sale,
crown.
lot
I.,
343.
Colchester shilling, from the
Newark
Inchiquin
shilling.
crown.
Pontefract shilling, 1648, from the Garratt
Charles
1646. II.,
sale, 1898.
Proceedings of the Society.
446
COPPER COIN ATTRIBUTED TO YOUGHAL.
BEESTON ONE-SHILLING-AND-SIXPENCE.
Eight Pontefract shillings belonging to
Mr. Bernard Roth.
Tew, The Grange, Carleton, Pontefract, who Most of the specimens kindly lent them for exhibition. Three specimens at Pontefract. were found in gardens are similar to No. 672 in the Handbook of the Coins of Great Britain and Ireland, 1899, two being lozenge shaped and weighing 79*1 grs. and 70' i grs. (pierced) and weighs 65*7 grs. only. is circular the third Two others are octagonal, and similar to No. 673 in Mrs.
;
same work, weighing 90*2 grs. and 77 grs. respectively. Two, also octagonal, are similar to No. 674 in the Handbook, weighing 8o'6 grs. and 697 grs. respectively,
the
although the heavier coin
The
eighth
is
is
also octagonal
much
more worn.
the
and similar
to
the Handbook, weighing 76*5 grs. Also the extremely rare Pontefract, so-called, piece
No. 675
in
two-shilling
from his own collection, which was stated
in
the
Moon
Sale Catalogue in 1901 to weigh 152 grs., but its real weight is only 1487 It has passed grs. through the Devonshire, Bergne, Brice, Montagu (1888), and Moon
See
Collections.
p.
323.
Mr. S. M. Spink. A remarkable series of obsidional pieces, many of which are unique :
BEESTON CASTLE. Two-shilling piece, oval.
showing
the
Front view of
gateway and
two
Beeston Castle, towers below, the ;
Meeting, January i8/^, value
II.
447
1905.
the type of castle somewhat resembles that On the left of the II, in Ruding XXIX, 6.
;
depicted but on the
flan, is
London
hall-mark of a leopard's coin having been made from the
the
head crowned, the bowl of an old seal-top or Apostle spoon, a spoon in vogue at and prior to the Great Rebellion. Unique.
See
307, Fig. 15. of irregular shape.
p.
Shilling
View
Beeston
of
Castle
;
Struck upon a piece of silver cut from the
below, S. I
of a salver or
edge
Hastings, Addington and p.
From
paten.
the Martin, Lord
See
Collections.
Montagu
306, Fig. 12.
View
of the castle, very similar to below, the value VII. that of the two-shilling^ piece From the Hugh Howard, Brice and Montagu collections.
Sevenpence, triangular.
:
See
p.
306, Fig. 14.
CARLISLE.
Three- shilling
Obverse
Circular.
1645.
piece,
C
:
R
a large crown, a rosette each side of the >s Royal initials, the value *I 1 1 below, and all within a Reverse: OB S CARL/' 1645- m two beaded circle.
beneath
A
lines.
as
rosette
circle
on obverse.
Shilling,
Ruding XXVIII, 5. C R Obverse below, the value 'XII beaded
circular.
crown
;
:
:
:
:
;
inscription in
A
below the date, and a beaded
rosette
three lines,
OBS
*
:/
:
beneath a large Reverse
circle.
:
CARL
* :
above and below, Ruding XXVIII,
1645.
/ 3.
NEWARK. Half-crown, sides
1645, lozenge
Reverse 1645.
a
of :
large
shaped.
crown,
the
Obverse: value
Inscription in three lines,
Ruding XXVIII,
7 (varied).
CR
XXX
OBS
:
/
at the
beneath.
NEWARK
/
Proceedings of the Society.
448
Similar to the preceding, but with date
Half-crown, 1646.
Ruding XXVIII,
1646.
Similar
1645.
Shilling,
Ruding XXVIII, Ninepence, 1646. and bearing
with
value
the
XII.
8.
reverse
the
upon
Arms.
Royal
but
type,
Similar type, but with the value IX. Similar to the preceding, but gilded,
1646.
Ninepence,
7.
Ruding XXVIII,
the
of
shield
the
See pp. 315-16,
9-
Fig- 32.
NEWARK Sixpence,
SIXPENCE.
Similar
1646.
Ruding XXVIII,
but
type,
with
the
value
VI.
10.
PONTEFRACT CASTLE. Gold.
Unite or
CAROLVS
:
1648,
Sovereign,
SECVNDVS
octagonal. View of 1648.
:
Obverse the
:
gate-
way and flanking towers of Pontefract Castle, with at the sides OBS vertical, centre tower and flag above ;
and the muzzle of a cannon central tower, the letters PC.
C'R beneath
SPERO.
Type
grains.
similar
See pp. 325-26, Fig. Silver two-shilling piece,
DVM
SPIRO
:
Reverse above,
holding
above, at the sides of the
Reverse
to
but a
at
the
sword
;
DVM
:
SPIRO
:
Weight 138^
Ruding XXIX,
12.
Unique.
47.
1648, lozenge shaped.
CR
beneath
view of the Castle with
:
:
a large crown.
SPERO.
:
;
sides
below,
OBS the
PC
vertical,
date
Obverse a
crown.
and the
and a 1648
;
:
flag
hand weight
Meeting, January i8//,
449
1905.
From the Duke 152 grains. Cf. Ruding XXIX, 10. of Devonshire's cabinet. See p. 323, Fig. 43. Shilling, 1648, octagonal. Type as the preceding. Ruding XXIX,
10.
Ruding XXIX,
12.
DVM
Obverse:
Shilling, 1648, circular.
CR
Similar type to the gold unite.
1648, octagonal.
Shilling,
beneath a crown.
Reverse
:
SPIRO
SPERO
:
Pontefract Castle, but
:
P no flag;
at
vertical
and XII
below,
;
n
the date 1648. 1648,
Shilling,
OBS
the sides
Ruding XXIX,
1.
1
as preceding.
Type
lozenge shaped.
SCARBOROUGH CASTLE. Three-shilling
piece,
octagonal.
Castle with gateway on the reverse.
Type
--View
of
side
below
left
;
Scarborough
g
/
Plain
j j
of Castle as Ruding
XXIX,
Weight
3.
See p. 308, Fig. 17. 246 grains. Unique. Two shillings and tenpence. Irregular shape. Similar view of Scarborough Castle
;
below
TJ
TTT/
Plain reverse.
Weight, 206 grains. Unique. See p. 308, Fig. 18. Two shillings and fourpence, oblong. Similar delineation of the Castle;
below
TT
from a plate or
cut
Plain
TTTT dish,
the rim
thicker than the rest of the piece. Cf.
Ruding XXIX,
3.
Unique.
This
reverse.
is
being reeded and
Weight, 214 grains. See p. 309, Fig. 20.
similar Obverse Two-shilling (?) piece, nearly square. view of the Castle, but the design occupies almost the whole field and the details are more amplified. Value :
omitted.
OBS
/
Reverse
II.
engraved
Scarborough / 1645,
^ grains. VOL.
:
Unique.
See
in in
contemporary three
lines.
lettering,
Weight,
21. p. 309, Fig.
2
G
Proceedings of the Society.
450 Shilling,
beneath the
Castle,
Plain
r
Ruding XXIX, 9
grains.
Mr. A. H. Baldwin.
Hawkins'
Mint,
the three-shilling piece
as
Type
nearly square.
reverse.
Weight,
;
98
See
p. 310, Fig. 23. of Charles I. of the Tower Shilling type 2A, but countermarked on the
(varied).
See p. 310, Fig. 26, attributed to Scarborough.
reverse with an ornamented letter S.
where
this
remarkable piece
is
Paper.
DR.
"
NELSON.
PHILIP
The
Obsidional
Money
of the Great
Rebellion, 1642-1649." Treatise, which
printed in this volume, the writer sketched the history of the troublous time of the Civil War, both in In
this
and
is
by about seventy magic lantern slides, showing by maps and views the position and appearance of the strongholds whence the siege pieces were issued, also England and
Ireland,
illustrated
his subject
He also gave particulars of all the the principal coins referred to. known varieties of siege pieces of the period, and explained their origin
and
circulation.
After a general discussion of the subject and of the coins exhibited, the President proposed that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Dr. Nelson for his very interesting paper, which was carried with acclamation.
ORDINARY MEETING. February P.
W.
P.
i^th, 1905.
CARL YON- BRITTON,
ESQ., F.S.A.,
D.L.,
President, in the Chair.
The Minutes
of
the
ORDINARY MEETING
held
on the
January, 1905, were read, confirmed, and signed by the President.
i8th
*
!*
829