ONE of the earliest notes issued by the Bank of Ireland, a rare example of a coin struck by the Lord Justices of Ireland in the mid-17th century and a halfpenny minted more than 800 years ago will come under the hammer at Dix Noonan Webb in London on December 5. The company’s first ever specialist sale of Irish coins, tokens, medals and banknotes will feature almost 350 lots.
One of the most remarkable lots in the auction is a Bank of Ireland One Pound note issued on 11 January 1813 and numbered 7187. Very little is known about this series which was issued during the Peninsular War and was only in circulation for about three years. It is estimated at £2,000-3,000. There is a similar estimate on a first coinage halfpenny minted in Dublin during King John’s time here from 1172-1179. During the 1640’s the Lord Justices of Ireland authorised several issues of coinage of which one was the so-called ‘Dublin Money’ which had the value in shillings and pence on each side. A very rare Dublin Money Crown is included and should sell for £2,000 to £2,500.