Ireland 10 pence 1813 - George III

The coin's story

This silver 10 pence token is an official emergency coin issued in 1813 by the Bank of Ireland, during the reign of George III. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Ireland lacked silver coinage, the Bank of Ireland first tried importing Spanish 8 reales coins, then obtained authorisation in 1804 to issue its own silver tokens (bank tokens). The Napoleonic Wars, which worsened the financial crisis, then caused the production of these tokens to soar. After the 5 and 10 pence of 1805-1806 and the 30 pence of 1808, this 10 pence issue of 1813 is the last of the series, it was produced only for a short time. The King's portrait was engraved by Thomas Wyon the Younger, and the reverse reads BANK TOKEN 10 PENCE IRISH within a wreath of shamrocks. The token was struck at the Royal Mint in London. The great recoinage, from 1816 after the end of the wars, put an end to these tokens.