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Auction: 15005 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 468

Ireland, Cork Farthing, 4.40g, William Ballard, 1677, brass penny token smoothed and counterstamped on reverse, corke in script, leopards head above, palm branches below, all within toothed border, token undertype llard*his* still legible (Dowle & Finn 333; SCBI 49 Norweb, No 6214; S.6562B), striking crack encroaching onto counterstamp, the counterstamp very clear and full with some wear to the high points, very fine or better, an intriguing and very rare piece

There are different schools of thought regarding the purpose of these enigmatic pieces. One theory is that they are in some way related to the 1689-91 Civil War and, therefore, are relative to the reign of James II in Ireland. The last example of this Cork counterstamp to pass through Spink's rooms was the La Riviere specimen, 22 February 2006, lot 147; the current SCBC plate coin.

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Sold for
£1,100