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  • Posts Tagged ‘Dix Noonan Webb’

    IRISH FREE STATE PENNY MAKES £17,360 AT DIX NOONAN WEBB

    Monday, March 7th, 2022
    Free State Penny (1921-1937) by Roman sculptor Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963) 

    A rare bronze Irish Free State penny from 1927 made for £17,360 at in a sale of Irish coins, tokens and historical medals at Dix Noonan Webb in London. Designed for a competition by Roman sculptor Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963) it is decorated with a harp, hens and chickens. Never put into circulation it had been estimated at £4,000-£5,000. It was purchased by an Irish collector.

    RARE IRISH £100 NOTE AT DIX NOONAN WEBB

    Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022
    UPDATE: THIS MADE £32,000 AT HAMMER

    An Irish Free State £100 note, dating from 10 September 1928 – one of only few examples known – is estimated at £12,000-£16,000 at a sale at Dix Noonan Webb in London on February 24.  The sale will also include the second part of the collection of the late Gus Mac Amhlaigh of Dublin, totalling 113 lots.

    An Irish Free State £50 note from September 1928 hand signed by Éamon de Valera is expected to fetch £10,000-£12,000. (UPDATE – THIS £50 NOTE MADE £10,000 AT HAMMER). A specimen 1978 Bank of Ireland £100 note, and a specimen Bank of Ireland 1978 £50 note each made £26,000 at hammer.

    Two specimen Bank of Ireland Ploughman notes: a £50 and a £100, both dating from around 1929, each sold for £32,240. Neither of these had appeared in auction for decades and had been expected to fetch £5,000-6,000 each [Lots 410 & 411].

    The three notes were part of the John Geraghty Collection and were all bought by an overseas collector with an interest in rare notes from all countries. The superb collection had been put together by the late John Geraghty and his son Sean, and comprised 54 lots which fetched £183,656.

    Among the rarities at the sale of British, Irish and world banknotes are more than 30 ‘skit’ notes dating from the 19th century from the collection put together by Sir David Kirch. Andrew Pattison explains: “These documents, for it is technically incorrect to call them banknotes, are remarkable pieces of social history.  They give us snapshots into the cares, fears, livelihoods, humour and pastimes of those who lived and worked in the British Isles for the last several hundred years. Skit notes generally mirror designs of real banknotes of the era.  Some, by accident or design, sail very close to the wind, and 19th century court records are full of attempts made by unscrupulous or ignorant individuals to pass them as real money.  Many of the punishments were severe, including flogging and transportation to the colonies.”  

    IRISHMANS INDIAN MUTINY VC MAKES £220,000

    Wednesday, January 26th, 2022

    THE outstanding group of six medals including a Victoria Cross awarded to Nenagh born Patrick Donohoe has just sold for a hammer price of £220,000 at Dix Noonan Webb in London. They were all awarded for service during the Indian Mutiny, known as the First War of Independence in India. Patrick Donohoe was among a select group, unique to his unit, to be present at all three major military episodes of the campaign, the Siege of Delhi, the Relief of Lucknow and the final capture of Lucknow.  He was presented with his VC by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in January 1860. After 25 years of service Patrick Donohoe was discharged with chronic bronchitis from the British Army in Dublin in 1864.  He died in Ashbourne, Co. Meath in 1876 and is buried in Donoughmore, Co. Cork.

    Following the sale, Christopher Mellor-Hill, Head of Client Liaison Dix Noonan Webb commented: “We are pleased with another great price today further reflecting the glory of the Victoria Cross and also a reflection on the notable Irish contribution in our military history as well as the growing interest in medal collecting generally with no less than six bidders participating in the auction. Donohoe’s V.C. group was bought by a private collector.”

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for January 15, 2022)

    DID ONE IRISH FAMILY ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST BRAVERY AWARDS OF BRITAIN AND THE US?

    Saturday, January 15th, 2022
    The outstanding group of six awarded to Patrick Donohoe with his Victoria Cross on the left. UPDATE: THE GROUP SOLD FOR £220,000

    The auction of a Victoria Cross awarded to Patrick Donohoe for bravery during the Indian Mutiny at Dix Noonan Webb on January 26 raises a fascinating question.  Is he the brother of Timothy Donoghue, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the American Civil War?

    Both were born in Nenagh, Co.Tipperary. Patrick in 1820 and Timothy in 1825.  And Timothy, who named his son Patrick, is known to have had an older brother of that name. If it turns out they are brothers it will be the only case of one family receiving the highest gallantry award of both Britain and America.

    Research suggesting that they are indeed brothers has been produced by Col. James Tierney, US Army retired, Regimental Historian of the 69th (New York Infantry) Regiment. 
    Timothy earned his Medal of Honor serving with the 69th New York Infantry at Fredericksburg, Virginia in December 1862. Patrick won his VC at the Battle of Bolondshuhur in 1857 during the unsuccessful mutiny against British rule known in India as the First War of Independence.

    Patrick joined the 17th Lancers in Dublin in 1839 giving his trade as coachmaker.  In April 1842 he transferred to the 9th Lancers, then bound for India where, in the space of the next 17 years, it was to see more fighting than in the whole of its previous 125 years.Timothy arrived in the US on the City of New York with his wife and son Patrick in April 1862. He enlisted in the 69th Regiment in September of that year.

    In India Patrick Donohoe was among a select group, unique to his unit, to be present at all three major military episodes of the campaign, the Siege of Delhi, the Relief of Lucknow and the final capture of Lucknow.  Wounded in Lucknow in 1858  he recovered to undertake the passage home with the regiment in 1859, now among a mere handful of comrades to have survived the years in India. His VC was sent to India while he was at sea, returned to London and eventually presented by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in January 1860. Patrick Donohoe was discharged with chronic bronchitis from the British Army in Dublin in 1864 after 25 years of service.  He died in Ashbourne, Co. Meath in 1876 and is buried in Donoughmore, Co. Cork.

    On offer at Dix Noonan Webb on London on January 26 is the outstanding group of six Indian Mutiny medals awarded to Patrick Donohoe, including his VC.  Lot 207 is estimated at £140,000-£180,000 (€167,440-€215,280).For now the question of whether two brothers from Tipperary received the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Victoria Cross remains open.

    SPECIMEN PLOUGHMAN STRIKES THE RIGHT NOTE AT DNW

    Wednesday, December 1st, 2021
    Currency Commission, Bank of Ireland, specimen £20, 5 September 1978 (fictitious date), serial number 00ZK 000000, Brennan and Gargan signatures, three cancellation holes and black SPECIMEN overprint

    An extremely rare Bank of Ireland specimen £20 ‘Ploughman’ banknote made £52,800 -16 times its pre-sale estimate – at the latest auction of British, Irish and World Banknotes at Dix Noonan Webb in London. From the collection of the late Gus MacAmhlaigh, Dublin, it had been estimated at £2,600-£3,200.

    Andrew Pattison, Head of Banknote Department at Dix Noonan Webb, explained: “This beautiful ‘Ploughman’ specimen £20 is the first to appear at auction in many years, and attracted a huge amount of interest. Bank records show beyond doubt that all issued £20 notes were redeemed and destroyed, which means specimens like this one are the only way collectors are able to acquire one. Two very serious Irish collectors, both based abroad, evidently felt that this was going to be very difficult to acquire another example, and despite a modest estimate of £2,600-£3,200, the hammer came down at £42,000″. The hammer price attracted a buyers premium of 24%.

    THE IRISH NOTES OF A PASSIONATE COLLECTOR AT DNW

    Monday, November 15th, 2021
    Central Bank of Ireland, £20, 6 August 1943, serial number 01X 066040, War Code A, Brennan and McElligott signatures. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £4,200

    This fine and very rare £20 Lady Lavery note from the Central Bank of Ireland with a War Code from 1943 comes up at Dix Noonan Webb in London on November 25 with an estimate of £4,000-£5,000. It is a highlight from the collection of the late Gus Mac Amhlaigh of Dublin.  Most of his collection is Irish and will be auctioned in several parts over the next year. It also contains groups from Scotland and the Isle of Man.  Lots 196 to 334 in the November sale are from his collection. Gus Mac Amhlaigh began collecting banknotes in the early 1970’s. A civil servant he moved from the Department of the Environment to the Custom House Docks Development Authority. He was a key figure in formulating the first masterplan for the Dublin Docklands, primarily focused the International Financial Services Centre. He was responsible for the largest ever regeneration scheme in the history of the State. More than 21,000 people are now employed in the docklands and a further 22,000 people live in the area. He left the Docklands Authority in 1999 and became ceo of the Irish Pension Unit Trust, one of the largest property funds in the country. He worked there until his retirement in 2007 and then joined the board of directors of the commercial estate agents, Bannon Commercial.

    UNPUBLISHED EASTER RISING ARCHIVE AND BRITISH MEDALS AT DNW

    Monday, November 8th, 2021

    An unpublished archive that celebrates the “The Gorgeous Wrecks” – a group of over-military age men who defended Dublin’s Beggars Bush Barracks’ during the Easter Rising of 1916 comes up at Dix Noonan Webb in London on November 10. Lot 232 includes the inter-War C.B.E. (Civil), 1916 ‘Easter Rising – Defence of Beggars Bush Barracks’ D.S.O., Great War O.B.E. (Military) group of eight awarded to Major and Adjutant George Arthur Harris of Dublin University Officer Training Corps, Territorial Force, who led his poorly armed column of above age military reservists in a week long defence of Beggars Bush Barracks during the 1916 Rising.
    It will be sold with an important archive of related material including the recipient’s unpublished diary of the Defence, written during the siege on ‘Beggars Bush, Dublin’ headed writing paper. As he commented “The whole business was horrible, as one never knew who was for or against you. An innocent looking civilian would walk past the barracks, see our position and then go to a house and snipe. The fighting in France I think was infinitely preferable to this and in this others concur.” The lot is estimated to fetch £8,000-12,000. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £18,000

    DUBLIN COPPER TOKEN MAKES £1,860 AT DIX NOONAN WEBB

    Monday, October 4th, 2021

    This Dublin copper token made £1,860 against an estimate of £40-60 at Dix Noonan Webb’s sale of tokens, tickets and passes in London. It was one of a number of Irish tokens from the Collection of Barry Woodside. The 63 lots had a pre-sale estimate of £7,000 and achieved a total of £27,361. It was 100% sold. The highest price was for this token depicting a horse and jockey and stamped James Large. He is believed to have been the inn holder at the Horse and Jockey, 26 Lincoln Place in 1855.  It was bought by a private collector in the Irish Republic. 

    COMMUNION TOKENS FROM IRELAND AT DIX NOONAN WEBB

    Sunday, July 4th, 2021

    A collection of Communion tokens,  derived from the Irish wars of religion of the mid 1600’s, comes up at a sale of Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals at Dix Noonan Webb in London on July 6 and 7. Amassed over many years by Delmas Parker, an American, the collection comprises 72 lots, totalling 455 pieces, mostly from the northern counties like Antrim, Down and Derry. Most of the towns and villages in Northern Ireland are represented in the collection. Protestants assembled in large church meetings, which served, not just as religious meetings, but also as political gatherings. To keep track of just who was attending these larger meetings, which were subject to activities of political spies and people that did not belong, communion tokens came into being. They were given to known local congregants by the priest or pastor. The tokens would be surrendered at the larger church meetings. They acted as passes, allowing members from smaller congregations to assemble in larger churches and not be deemed political spies or unrepentant sinners.

    Lot 1075 is a collection of communion tokens from Co. Antrim. UPDATE: THESE MADE £240 AT HAMMER

    RARE IRISH £100 NOTE AT LONDON AUCTION

    Thursday, May 20th, 2021

    A rare Irish £100 note from 1928 comes up at Dix Noonan Webb in London on May 27. Among a strong selection of Irish notes in the auction of British, Irish and World banknotes is this £100 note from the Irish Free State, dated 10 September 1928 and estimated at £12,000-16,000. A £50 note from the same date carries an estimate of £8,000-10,000. (Update – the £100 note sold for £14,880, the £50 note went for £9,920).

    Andrew Pattison, Head of Department at Dix Noonan Webb, said: “These two notes are some of the first issued by the independent Ireland in 1928, and are also the first to feature the iconic image of Lady Lavery leaning on harp.  There are now thought to be less than ten of each of these denominations still in existence from this early date.” 

    UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £14,880 TO A COLLECTOR IN IRELAND