Cork 1647 6 pence

Stack's Bowers 2025 NYINC sale, lot 33243

This specimen was lot 33243 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2025), where it sold for $2,160. The catalog description^[1] noted, "IRELAND. 6 Pence, 1647. Southern Cities of Refuge. Cork Mint. Charles I. PCGS F-15. A RARE and engaging octagonal emergency issue produced during the stay of Murrough O'Brien, 6th Baron & Lord Inchiquin, in Cork in May 1647. Charmingly crude and struck from pieces of cut and flattened silver plate, this example exhibits fully legible detail despite the noted wear. From the Richard August Collection." Murrough MacDermod O'Brien, 6th baron and later first earl of Inchiquin (1614-74), was a Protestant nobleman who supported first Charles I and then Parliament during the English Civil War as better able to help the Protestant cause in Ireland. This sixpence was issued in support of Charles I and was accompanied by a shilling. Hampered by lack of money and arms, Inchiquin was never able to accomplish anything decisive.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 2.2 g, silver, this specimen 2.25 g.

Catalog reference: S-6561A; DF-329, KM 80.

Source:

• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of the Coins of Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man, London: Coincraft, 1999.
• Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Man & Lundy), Pre-Decimal Issues, 2nd edition, London: Spink & Son, 2003.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2025 NYINC Showcase Auction, featuring the Richard Margolis Collection, Part III, and the Richard August Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

• Ireland (1642) shilling, Inchiquin Money
• (1643-44) shilling, Ormonde
• Cork 1647 shilling, Inchiquin Money
• (1649) crown, Ormonde
• Coins and currency dated 1647