Hibernia copper hello

[Scrappy]

Today I found my second large copper from my 1784 site. One reason I enjoy this hobby is because one learns history every time they find a new coin. I was fairly familiar with Hibernia coinage but not at all with the latter part. So after I saw George IV 1823, I, of course googled it. To my surprise this coin was the last year Hibernia coins were minted! So here it is...

"In 1822 and 1823 a small issue of pennies and halfpennies was released for use in Ireland by the Royal Mint.

By this time the normal English currency, which had been reformed in 1816, was circulating in Ireland along with an extensive series of banknotes of the numerous private banks in Ireland.

The coinage also consisted of a farthing which was not issued and only specimens or patterns exist.

Proof strikings of the penny and halfpenny exist for both years of issue and there is a scarce pattern penny with a narrower harp that the normal issue.

In 1826 the Irish currency was formally abolished and the Irish pound which had been valued a few pence below the sterling pound was brought into line and ceased to exist as a separate denomination."



Thanks Internet. Here are the pics

Also found were some relics and a silver merc

Cheers guys

 

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[Old Dude]

That harp looks great! Nice hunt with another nice old key.

 

[cjon455]

I absolutely love finding skeleton keys!, great job on that Hibernia as well!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Hibernia halfpennies were exported en mass to the Colonies and not very well received. I don't know the whole history but it's kind of interesting the way England tried to fob off those Hibernias on the US Colonies. Nice finds.

 

[Vino]

Really cool coin Steve!
You find some different stuff.
Well done.

 

[nsdq]

well done

 

[port ewen ace]

another great day in Christieland. thumbs to the sky!!!

 

[Loco-Digger]

Sweet coin and thanks for the history. Both the love of the finds and the history make this a great hobby. Is that an old copper ring in the pic?

 

[Scrappy]

That harp looks great! Nice hunt with another nice old key.

Thanks Dave. The harp really does stand out well. I really didn't clean that coin much at all since the details would have probably fallen away.

 

[against the wind]

Nice Hibernian.
History, Numismatics, Metallurgy, Antiquities, and the list goes on. So many different fields of study come into play as we play in the dirt.
Good hunt Scrappy

 

[pepperj]

Nice going on the token Scrappy.

 

[creade]

Great copper and a skeleton key to boot!! love that merc and the relics are cool

 

[Scrappy]

Hibernia halfpennies were exported en mass to the Colonies and not very well received. I don't know the whole history but it's kind of interesting the way England tried to fob off those Hibernias on the US Colonies. Nice finds.

That's a interesting fact. I hear the mintage wasn't huge for the last two years so they're probably easier to find than in England..? I only saw one other in person, with George, so you don't see them too often

 

[Carolina Tom]

Very nice Scrappy. I see another skeleton key too... dang.

 

[Scrappy]

Really cool coin Steve!
You find some different stuff.
Well done.

Thx George. I've been into this spot because I've pulled two unusual coppers. First an 1837 Hard times token and now this. It keeps things fresh!

 

[Davers]

Your Hunts rarely cease to Amaze Me.
Like OD said , "Another Nice Old key".

 

[Scrappy]

Nice Hibernian.
History, Numismatics, Metallurgy, Antiquities, and the list goes on. So many different fields of study come into play as we play in the dirt.
Good hunt Scrappy

I was hanging with a friend who teaches history and was fascinated with the coin. Those Irish and English have quite a past!

Nice going on the token Scrappy.

Thx Pepp. I wonder if they used large copper tokens as currency?

Great copper and a skeleton key to boot!! love that merc and the relics are cool

Thx. It was a good mixed grill on this hunt...perhaps the recent rain helped

Steve

 

[pepperj]

Thx Pepp. I wonder if they used large copper tokens as currency?

Steve

The harp was used on a number of different tokens that were circulated up here, and one example is the Bust and Harp Tokens that were struck in 1825 of the half penny token.

It was then learned that currency regulations enacted in 1825 forbade the further importation of private tokens into Canada. However, nothing in the regulations interfered with the importing tokens dated before 1825.
The tokens struck in 1825 are known as the "Bust and Harp" tokens because of their design. They became popular among the Irish immigrants of Lower Canada. They soon were widely imitated in brass and competed with legitimate colonial coinage for twenty years.