Irish penny of Edward IV

Chris Mcloughlin said this find turned up in Dorset. It’s an Irish penny on which the king’s name is unclear but it will have been struck during the reign of Edward IV.

It is interesting to note that a high proportion of the pennies of Edward IV found in England were struck in Ireland. The reason for this is that Irish coins were lighter in weight, so exporting them to England was a profitable exercise. In order that they would circulate freely in England they often copied some of the elements found on English pennies. For example, it is not unusual for there to be a quatrefoil on the reverse, which in England only appeared on York pennies struck at the archbishops’ mint.

Chris’s coin was struck at Dublin and is an example of Burns’ type 5, style E. It has on the obverse pellets by the king’s neck and is an example of the light, cross and pellets coinage. In Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands the type is listed as number 6364.

Valuation

The flan is irregular and the obverse has been struck off centre but this coin is in well above average condition for an Irish penny of this reign and type. It would grade VF for the issue and I’d set a pre-sale auction estimate on it at £120 – £150. A really keen collector might pay even more than the upper estimate for it.