O’REILLYS Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver Auction Starting Wednesday, 22nd March 2023 at 12pm

13 The Youghal Farthing Irish Coin of 1646 The 1640s were a grim period in the history of Ireland. In 1642 the English civil war between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians had broken out. In Ireland the Confederation of Irish Landowners had formed an alliance with the “Old English” landlords in Ireland – the Royalists - who wanted King Charles I to be reinstated. Battles were fought throughout the island as the Parliamentarian armies fought for control of Ireland. As towns and cities were besieged there was a requirement for currency to pay for supplies as well as wages for the troops. This led to the minting of so called “siege money” in Kilkenny Cork, Bandon andYoughal In Youghal, the siege money was in the form of copper far- things (a quar ter of a penny).These coins were struck on dia- mond shaped squares of copper. They had the letters YT (Youghal Town) and the date 1646 on one side and the outline of a sailing ship (or yawl) on the other. They were crudely made and very few survived. However in 1991 a well struck example was bought at an O’Reilly’s auction and has now come back for sale in the for thcoming auction on 22nd March 2023. TheYoughal quar ter far thing is an impor tant par t of Irish history and a vital addition to any col- lection of Irish coins. It could take another quar ter century before we see another one - and the guide price for Lot 383 is €500 to €1,000. Greg Carley LIVE AUCTION OF FINE JEWELLERY, WATCHES, SILVER & COINS • WEDNESDAY, 22nd MARCH 2023 AT 12PM Lot 383