© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
© Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
2 Pence - Ormonde Siege coinage ND
| Silver | 0.86 g | 14 mm |
| Issuer | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1643-1644 |
| Value | 2 Pence (1⁄120) |
| Currency | Second Irish Pound (1460-1826) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 0.86 g |
| Diameter | 14 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#147107 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Value in Roman numerals within thin inner circle and beaded border
Script: Latin
Lettering:
D
II
Translation: Two pence
Comment
The ‘Ormonde money’ is so called because it was supposed to have been issued during the Viceroyalty of James, Marquis of Ormonde, who first received his appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on the 17th November, 1643, and was sworn into office the 21st January following. He was later created Duke of Ormonde and was considered a Royalist – therefore being the enemy of both the Confederate Catholics in Ireland and Cromwell’s Parliamentarians in England during the (simultaneously fought) Great Irish Rebellion and the English Civil War, respectively.On the 25th May, 1643, a letter was issued at Oxford by the King, in which he directed his Lords Justices in Ireland to encourage his Majesty’s loyal subjects to bring in their plate to the treasury that it might be coined
“into small peeces, to the value of five shillings, halfe-crowns, twelve-pences, six-pences, or of any less value, which several small peeces they shall make of the same weight, value and allay, as our moneys now currant in England of those value respectively are, and shall stamp the same on the one side, with these letters, C. K. for Carolus King, with a crown over those letters, and on the other side with the values of the said several peeces respectively.”
This broke with the traditional ‘best practise’ whereby Irish silver was valued at less than its English equivalent in order to stop it from flooding out of the country.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the 2 Pence - Ormonde (Siege coinage) ND (1643-1644) from Ireland is that it was minted during a time of great turmoil and political upheaval in Ireland. The coin was issued by the Irish Confederate Catholics, who were fighting against the English Parliamentarian forces during the Irish Confederate Wars. Despite the challenges and limitations of minting coins during a time of war, the Ormonde coinage, of which this 2 Pence coin is a part, is considered to be one of the most well-known and sought-after series of coins in Irish numismatics.
