Sale features rare Irish coins and banknotes

Rare items at an auction of Irish coins and banknotes to be held today include Bronze Age Irish ring money, a 1943 florin and a set of Morbiducci pattern coins.

The 1943 florin - a two-shilling piece - is regarded as the key Irish coin of the 20th century. One such coin, one of only four known graded as "brilliant, uncirculated, sans pareil", is expected to fetch £14,000-£16,000 (€17,780-€20,300) at Whyte's auction rooms in Dublin today.

The 1943 florin was withdrawn before being issued to the banks. Due to the war, their value in silver exceeded the two-shilling face value, says Mr Peter Geoffrey, a director of Whyte's. "The story is that one bag or one part-bag did get through to one bank, so there were something like 600 or so of these coins that got out into the system. In any condition they're worth perhaps up to £2,000."

Three rare samples of Bronze Age Irish ring money, circa 1300-1100 BC, believed to have been found in Co Clare in the 19th century, are included in the sale.

An extremely rare gold ring of cable pattern, formerly of the G.C. Drable collection, is estimated at £3,000-£4,000.

A second extremely rare cable pattern ring from the same collection is estimated at £2,500-£3,000, while a plain gold ring with blunt ends, with the same provenance, is estimated at £1,500-£2,000.

"Celtic ring money was money in the form of quite ornate little rings of various sizes. There's some suggestion that it may have been used as part of costume at the time. But the items were rings and they were used as money made out of gold. They are extremely scarce in Ireland. There are some in museums but I think I'm right in saying there would be less than 20 pieces of Irish ring money recorded, in museums or private hands. So these are pretty scarce items."

In contrast, Roman coins can have low estimates. "You can get Roman coins which are the best part of 2,000 years old - and copper coins in particular - and probably pay less than £10 for them. Age in itself doesn't make them particularly valuable. Hoards of Roman copper coins, in particular, turn up still in England - and almost never here. You can actually get a little bit of history for that sort of money."

Six separate lots of rare Morbiducci pattern Irish coinage, designed by Italian artist Publio Morbiducci, are included in the auction. The designs were not accepted by the Government's committee chaired by W.B. Yeats, which was set up to decide on Irish coinage.

A 1927 Morbiducci halfcrown pattern in silver, one of only five recorded - two of which are in the National Museum - is estimated at £4,000-£5,000. A Morbiducci florin, one of only four known - two of which are in the National Museum - is expected to fetch £3,000-£4,000. A Morbiducci silver shilling, one of five recorded - two of which are in the National Museum - is estimated at £2,500-3,500. A Morbiducci sixpence - there are only five recorded - has a price tag of £2,500-£3,000. A threepence pattern, one of only four recorded, is estimated at £2,000-£2,500, while a Morbiducci one penny pattern in silvered bronze, one of two recorded in silver colour, could make £2,500-£3,000. A Bank of Ireland specimen £100 banknote, colloquially known as a "ploughman" banknote, with "SPECIMEN" printed in red ink diagonally across the centre and with three punch cancellations, is expected to fetch £2,500£3,000.

Whyte's auction of coins, banknotes, medals and militaria takes place today, February 23rd, at Whyte's auction rooms 30 Marlborough Street, Dublin, at 1 p.m.

The Irish International Coin Fair takes place tomorrow and Sunday, February 24th and 25th, at the RDS Ballsbridge from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: adults £2, children £1.

jmarms@irish-times.ie