— INTRODUCTION —
 

NOTES ON THE TOKENS OF THIS SECTION.
 

As regards the Irish tokens of the 18th Century, unfortunately, no contemporary writer or collector did for them what Charles Pye did for those of England, Scotland and Wales; hence the information available is considerably limited.

With the exception of short notices in old newspapers, we have little available beyond what the author of the “Bazaar Notes” compiled; in which we are informed that William Mossop, of 13, Essex Quay, Dublin, cut the dies of a great number. A reference to Thomas Sharp’s “Catalogue of the Provincial Copper Coins, Tokens and Medalets ... in the Collection of Sir George Chetwynd, Bart.,” is made because he, in several instances, gives the die-sinker’s names.

The early 18th Century tokens are not included in this list, viz., those of James Maculla, who in 1729, and in 1731, issued tokens, the earlier ones conveying the promise of “10 pence a pound for these”; the others, ”Promise 20 shillings pound str.”; Francis McMinn promised “to pay the bearer on demand two pence, 1760,” etc.

The tokens attributed to Cork are chiefly mules. Sharp gives Denton as die-sinker or manufacturer, possibly both.

An unfortunate feature of a number of Irish tokens is the presence of a cypher or monogram, without any edge reading to inform posterity as to its meaning; J E Co and W H Co are instances. H M Co. which appears on the reverse of the token date 1792, refers to the Hibernian Mine Co.

The I M Co. on the Drogheda tokens may mean Irish Mine Co. The specimens are poorly designed and executed.

The Penny of the H M Co, “Camac Kyan and Camac,” and that with the legend “Turner Camac Chairman,” are very rare.

The Farthings, with the exception of mules, bear the name and place of business of the issuers.

The obverse of the genuine tokens represents St. Patrick, a native of Scotland, but the patron saint of Ireland, who died in 493. The reverse, a crest and shield of arms, which, by the legend, may be regarded as the Arms of the Company.

Extract from “Walker’s Hibernian Magazine,” for September, 1795; p. 229 :—

TRIP THROUGH PART OF THE COUNTY OF WICKLOW IN JUNE, 1794.

I lay the second night in Rathdrum, and the following morning I went to see the copper works of Cronebawn.

Cronebawn is an hill of two miles in circumference, and upwards of 300 yards in height, swelling regularly in form of an inverted bowl, in the bowels of which are rich mines, principally copper, worked at present by a company of English gentlemen. An accidental discovery, which some time ago happened, has made the stream, which issues from the hill, more beneficial than all the rest of the mines: some of the workmen, having left an iron shovel in the stream, found it some weeks after encrusted with copper, insomuch that they thought it converted into that material. Mr. John Kyan, to whom these mines formerly belonged, constructed a number of stone cisterns, in which a quantity of iron being deposited, in some time it leaves a sediment of copper, which is thought to be better than that taken out of the mountain.

But though the mineral stream affords a considerable profit to the proprietors, it is extremely injurious to the neighbourhood by entirely destroying a very fine salmon fishery, as from the place where the poisonous stream enters the river till it is lost in the sea, the fish are almost all destroyed.

On the opposite side of the river from Cronebawn is the copper works of Ballymurtagh, worked at present by Messrs. Camac, Kyan and Camac.

Extract from “Memoir on the Geological Relations of the East of Ireland,” by Thomas Weaver, published in 1819; pp. 97-8 :—

The present Company of Cronebane commenced their operations in the year 1787, having purchased the mines and fee of that estate, and also part of Tigrony, upon their losing the lease of the celebrated Parys mine, in Anglesea, of which they were the original discoverers. In 1798 they were incorporated by Act of Parliament under the firm of The Associated Irish Mine Company.”

Thomas Weaver was for many years resident acting partner.

The writer of the “Bazar Notes” informs us that “The introduction of the female with the harp is emblematic of Hibernia or Erin; and of the still, pick, and spade, of the manufacture of whiskey, and the mining industry, as carried on by the issuers and others.”

This copper-mining industry, of which Turner Camac was chairman, was started in the year 1790, under the style of the Hibernian Mine Company, which was the name of an old copper-mine that had been stopped since the time of the Rebellion. The Company was incorporated in 1792. The partners in the firm were Turner Camac, John Howard Kyan, and John Camac.

Mr. A. W. Waters kindly informs us that the principal copper-mine was at Ballymurtagh, at Arklow, in 1808.

In 1827 the London Office of the Company was at 12, King’s Arms Yard, Moorgate Street, City. At this date the Company had a lead mine at Castlemains, a coal mine at Tyrone, and a slate quarry at Valentia. The capital in 1808 was £100,000.

The Halfpennies of the H M Co. call for no further attention beyond the fact that the execution of the design of some, and the vagaries of the spelling, suggest the idea that they are forgeries.

There is a Penny, very rare, issued by William Frederick Bentley, who also issued a number of Halfpennies of similar design, both dated 1804, and both state the place of business.

A Penny “To prevent the abuse of charity” may be referred to, along with the “House of Industry Halfpenny,” both being for the relief of the Poor.

Mr. L. L. Fletcher has kindly forwarded the following, taken from a pamphlet in the British Museum :—

AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACTING GOVERNORS OF THE HOUSE OF INDUSTRY. 1799.

“The industry of the poor in the House has been more than doubled in consequence of the regulation of last year — namely, augmenting the former allowance of 2d. in the shilling earned by them, to 8d. — and the payment of this quota in coin appropriated to, and current only in the House, which the vendors of spirituous liquors in the neighbourhood refuse to take, has secured habits of sobriety.”

At this time Benjamin O’Brien was Master of the Works.

In “An Account of the Proceedings of the Governors of the House of Industry,” published by T. M. Bates, 89, Coombe, Dublin, in 1801, is a statement of the work done by the inmates, the dietary, and, at the end, a Plan of the Building, also of a Public Kitchen and Perpetual Ovens. There is also the following :—

His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant has directed that during the present high prices of Provisions, Soup should be distributed to the Poor of this City, at the Public Kitchens at One Halfpenny a quart. (It had previously been sold at One Penny per quart, and in a period of four months 37,200 quarts had been sold.) The Governors of the House of Industry give notice that they will forthwith distribute Soup at the rate of One Halfpenny per Quart, and issue Tickets accordingly. Tickets for the several Soup-shops, at One Halfpenny each, are to be sold at the following places :—
Mr. Lindsay, Parliament Street.	Mr. Ashley, Queen Street.
Mr. Vigne, College Green.	Messrs. Stewart, Inn’s Quay.
Mr. Allen, Dame Street.	Mr. O’Neale, Ormonde Quay.
Mr. Binns, Stephen’s Green.	Mr. Mason, Coombe.
Mr. Donovan, George’s Quay.	Mr. Moore, High Street.
Rev, Dr. Moody, Dominick Street.	Mr. McCreery, High Street
Mr. Newell, Great Britain Street.	Mr. Bloxham, Meath Street.
Mr. Campbell, New Sackville Street	Mr. M’Cready, Bride Street.
Messrs. Payne & Smith, College Green.	Mr. C. Williams, Bride Street.
Mr. Kinsley, Capel Street.	Mrs. Murphy, Thomas Street.
Mr. Cask, Sackville Street	Mr. Rooke, Engraver, Crampton Court.
Capt. Woodward, Ellis’ Quay.	Mr. Foley, Capel Street.
“N.B.— The Public are earnestly requested not to give Alms to the Poor in money, but in Tickets, a mode best calculated to procure for them cheap and wholesome nutritous subsistence.
"House of Industry, "8th April, 1801	“By Order, “THO. BYRNE, Sec.”

The Issuer of the Dublin Halfpennies, with the Bishop's head to right, on the obverse, was John Ord, a tanner, in Cork Street, Dublin.

John Brewer, of the French Arms, gives his address on his token, as also does Talbot Fyan, the grocer, of Poolbeg Street, Dublin.

The token of Samuel Cooleys, Dublin, cannot be traced.

The tokens bearing the cypher L & R on the reverse were issued by Lloyd and Ridley, of 36, Castle Street, Dublin, and of the Manufactory at Harold’s Cross, about one mile south of Dublin.