Irish 1696 'Ugly Head' Halfpenny

     Can anyone tell me how the 1696 'Ugly Head' 1/2d (per D&H and also Spink) came to be?

     Thank you,
     Bill

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Buffalo on March 6, 2010 at 10:59pm

Bill, this is way outside of my area of collecting but this site shows why it was just a one year issue and differed from the previous years, and also has some photos.

Link

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Permalink Reply by Aidan Work on March 7, 2010 at 2:37am

Bill,
I'm not familiar with this coin.

We don't see the Irish coins of King William III over here in New Zealand.

I've got a couple of Irish King Charles II 1/2d. coins in my collection,plus one of the reign of William & Mary.

Aidan.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Snyder on March 7, 2010 at 8:41am

When I mention the 'Ugly' Head 1696, I am referring to what the excellent Dowle and Finn Irish reference refers to as the Type 2. (Please see the D & F page at www.littlemistakes.com/1696_Dowle-Finn_1696.jpg )

As you see, the Type 1 pictures William III in a normal way. But where did anyone get the grotesque image shown on the Type 2?

Bill

P.S.- I have other references and pictures, but never have seen a hint on the reason for the odd-looking obverse.