½ Penny Token (D
& H 8 - Wicklow, Cronebane) |
 |
 |
| 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. |
|
| 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. |
|
| Edge: PAYABLE AT CRONEBANE LODGE OR IN DUBLIN
. X . |
| 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 |