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Auction: 25021 - The Simpson Collection of Hiberno-Norse and Irish Coinage
Lot: 307

Ireland, CO. DOWN, Newtownards, John McCully, Twopence, 1761, IOHN | MCCULLY, cask, dividing 2-P, BREWER | *, eight line inscription, edge plain, 7.89g, 12h (D. 44; Seaby TE9), hairlined to the reverse, die flaw through CULLY, bold fine; another, Donaghadee [?], Fran McMinn, Twopence, 1760, eight line inscription, rev, plain, edge plain, 8.20g (D. 65; Seaby TE11), about very fine for type (2)

Provenance

The John Noel Simpson Collection of English, Irish and Hiberno-Norse Coins



'John McCully, who helpfully declares himself to be a brewer and represents a barrel on the coin. The land around Newtonwards is more suitable for grain than much of Ireland and malting has only just ceased in the area. Of more interest and utility even than the declaration of trade is that, uniquely, there is literary evidence for McCully's tokens in circulation. Richard Twiss went on a tour of Ireland in 1775 and as well as observing the sights took an interest in prices, manufactures and agriculture. On his way to the Giant's Causeway, after observing a round tower on the road between Antrim and Ballymoney, he says 'In these parts I found many copper coins current, which were struck by tradesmen; on one of them was inscribed, 'I promise to pay the bearer on demand John McCully, 1761.', and goes on to quote Simon's remarks about the earlier tokens. This is an extremely valuable piece of evidence. As well as giving confirmation that McCully's tokens were circulating freely in an area at some distance, and with few direct links with Newtownards fifteen years after the declared date of issue, it also seems to suggest that at the very least McMinn's and Fisher's tokens were enjoying similar success and that perhaps some of the earlier coins were also still in circulation.' (Heslip, BNJ 1992, p.172)

'Francis McMinn does not name a place, which may have significance in either indicating a certain prominence, or that his coins were only intended to circulate in a very local area. We now know him to have been based in Donaghadee, as that time a busy port for the short sea crossing to Portpatrick, used extensively for the northern mails. Typically, the information available now does not suggest he was a shop-keeper, but that he engaged in the sort of mercantile activity expected of a trader based in a small, active port.' (Heslip, BNJ 1992, p.173)

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£70