Irish Pennies of Edward IV, Edward V and Richard III from the Collection of O. Mac Conamhna

Edward IV (1461-1483), Third Cross and Pellets coinage (c. 1474-7), Dublin, mm. rose (?), pellets by neck, rev. quatrefoil in centre, no extra pellets, 0.57g/1h (Burns Du-6a; Mac Conamhna, BNJ 2017, p.115, no. 15, this coin; S 6364). About very fine, an exceptional coin for the issue £120-150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Irish Pennies of Edward IV, Edward V and Richard III from the Collection of O. Mac Conamhna.

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On 20 August 1474 the English goldsmith, Richard Heron, was appointed as the Irish mintmaster. Combined with production remaining restricted to the Dublin mint, both factors can be seen as an attempt by Edward IV to assert control over the facility. This piece, distinct in style and remarkably common, is given to the period which closed in July 1475. Mac Conamhna, p.115, adds: ‘According to this chronology, it is the issue which introduced the mark of the pellets by the neck to this series. As the mark of the centralised issue of the King’s direct appointment, it was to become a common feature of the series thereafter’