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1 Groat - Elizabeth I Second Coinage
| Issuer | Royal Irish Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1561 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth I facing left, rendered in the crude hammered style typical of mid-16th century Irish coinage. The queen's effigy is depicted with a simple crown and minimal facial detail, characteristic of the Dublin mint's workmanship of this period. The bust is set within a beaded inner circle. The surrounding legend reads ELIZABETH:.D'.G'.A'F.ET'HIBERNIE.RE, abbreviated for her royal titles as Queen of England, France and Ireland. The flan shows irregular edges and slight weakness in strike, consistent with hammered silver coinage of the era. A small hole is visible near the center, indicating the coin was once mounted or worn as a pendant. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | ELIZABETH:.D'.G'.A'F.ET'HIBERNIE.RE (Translation: Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland) |
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| Additional information |
Elizabeth I's Irish silver coinage of 1561 was struck at the Tower of London rather than any Irish facility — the Royal Irish Mint designation reflects issuing authority, not location of production. The Second Coinage followed a deliberate debasement policy under her predecessors that had left Irish currency deeply debased and distrusted. Elizabeth's recoinage effort aimed to restore confidence, though Irish groats continued to circulate alongside quantities of worn, underweight base-metal pieces for years afterward.
Spink 6506 is among the scarcer denominations of this recoinage series.