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Ireland - 1789

Associated Irish Mine Company

Obverse:

Bust of St. Patrick facing to the right and wearing a cope with a cowl and mitre; a pastoral staff and banderoll to the right.

Legend:

CRONEBANE HALFPENNY.

Edge:

PAYABLE AT CRONEBANE LODGE OR IN DUBLIN . X .

Reverse:

Arms. (Vert, on a chevron argent, between two shovels in saltire in chief, and a bugle-horn in base, three pickaxes), and Crest: (A windlass).

Legend:

ASSOCIATED IRISH MINE COMPANY and a small ornament. The date "17 89" is separated by the shield.

Vern's Comments:

This example has been manufactured as gilt added over a copper planchet. Except for the edge nicks visible in the picture it is nearly uncirculated.

Diesinker, Hancock; manufacturer, probably Hancock. Most of the varieties are common.

Comments. The Associated Irish Mine Company was formed about 1787 by Abraham Mills who became the chairman, and William Roe, Robert Hodgson, Bryan Hodgson, Thomas Weaver the elder, Edward Hawkins, Thomas Smith, Charles Caldwell and Brabazon Noble; to work copper and other mines. Their office was at 184, Great Britain Street, Dublin. In 1798 this company was incorporated by Act of Parliament.

One of the chief mines of the company was the Cronebane Mine in the Vale of Ovoca, on the opposite side of the river to Ballymurtagh, and about six miles above Wicklow, the other being that of Tigrony. The firm of Charles Roe and Company were members of this association.

Reference to St. Patrick has been made under Dublin No. 13. The reverse design shows Arms and a Crest that are assumed to be those of the Associated Irish Mine Company, though they are not recorded by any of the standard Heraldic authorities. They are very carefully engraved on the tokens and it is possible that they formed the design adopted for the common seal of the Company, which by their Act they were empowered to use.

There are thirty varieties of this token, many of the differences being very trivial and the specimen illustrated suffices for all. There were also some 24 counterfeits and 20 mules which is a much larger number than usual. Among the counterfeits may be mentioned pieces bearing different dates, or no date; a reverse legend: - ASSOCIATED IRISH MINERS ARMS; with a reverse of Hibernia; and with a variety of edge inscriptions.

Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 232-233

Ireland — Wicklow

D & H 8 — Cronebane

Bell Pg: 232-233

O: Similar, the ribbon nearly to the top of Y.

A. 3

R: The handle touches the second limb of R.

E: PAYABLE AT CRONEBANE LODGE OR IN DUBLIN . X .