IR1646 - Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin, Phase V,  Penny, 0.91g, (c.1065-1095), stylized head ultimately derived from the Long Cross type of Aethelred II left, cross on neck, two pellets before face, pellet and two wedges behind head, rev., voided long cross with bar on two arms, anchor like object in 3rd quarter, annulet in 2nd and pellets in 1st and 4th, (SCBI BM 157-161; S.6138), toned, good very fine, very rare $2995 SOLD

Provenance:

Ex La Riviere Collection, Spink Auction, 22 February 2006, lot 16.

Ex Donal Levy, 'MacDuinnsleibhe' Collection, Bonhams Auctions, 24 February 2004, lot 109.

IR1505 - Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin, Phase III (c.1035-c.1060), Penny, 0.92g., "Long Cross and Hand Coinage", stylized head ultimately derived from the Long Cross type of Aethelred II left, pellet in annulet on neck, blundered legend,  rev., voided long cross, each arm terminating with three curves, a hand and pellet in the 1st and 4th quarters, blundered legend (S.6132; BNJ 1976, Brand #B50), practically as struck, spectacular iridescent toning, a superb hoard coin with an impressive provenance and pedigree, only coin of this sub-type in hoard. $1995  SOLD

 

Provenance:

Ex 'Brand Parcel', inventory of A.H. Baldwin Ltd, London.

Ex Virgil Brand (died 1926) Collection, Chicago, IL.

Ex Dunbrody Hoard, Co. Wexford, Ireland, 1836.

The Virgil Brand Parcel of Hiberno-Norse Pennies

The 'Brand Parcel' was the name given to a group of fifty-two Hiberno-Norse pennies that were part of the famous collection formed by the Chicago brewer, Virgil Brand and that were purchased by A. H. Baldwin in the 1970's. The multi-millionaire Brand was a very active collector from 1890 until his death in 1926, who was known to buy large parcels of coins in order to acquire a single specimen, with Spink and Son often acting as his agent in London. This parcel of one Phase I, one Phase II, forty-eight Phase III and two Phase VI coins is discussed by Blackburn and Seaby¹ , who conclude that the Phase III portion came from a single medieval hoard, with the Dunbrody Hoard being the most likely source. References in the descriptions are to the BNJ article which list the individual Brand coins in detail.

 

The Dunbrody Hoard

The Dunbrody Hoard^2, Co. Wexford, 1836 consisted of about 1400 coins predominately Hiberno-Norse Phase III pennies with a few late examples of Phase II. In addition there were about 200 late Anglo-Saxon pennies from Cnut to Edward the Confessor, the majority being of the latter and terminating with the Small Flan issue. The hoard would therefore appear to have a terminus post quem of c.1050. based on the Anglo-Saxon element. Such absolute dating evidence is rare amongst Hiberno-Norse finds, giving added importance to the hoard as a benchmark in the dating of the series. 

¹ M. Blackburn  and W. A. Seaby, "The 'Francis' and 'Brand' Parcels of Hiberno-Norse Coins", BNJ 1976, pp 29-39.

² Thompson Inventory #141. R. H. M. Dolley, "SCBI - Hiberno-Norse Coins in the British Museum", 1966. pp 67-68.

IR1504 - Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin, Phase IVa Long Cross, 'Scratched-Die Coins" (c.1060-c.1065), Penny, 0.89g., stylized head ultimately derived from the Long Cross type of Aethelred II left, trefoil of pellets on the neck, two pellets in front, one behind and quatrefoil of pellets behind neck, partially blundered legends,  rev., voided long cross, each arm terminating with three curves, a hand in the 1st quarter, two pellets and a cross in the 2nd, pellets in the 3rd and 4th quarter, partially blundered legends, (S.6134), one of only a handful of coins known of this type, the majority being in museums and in much lower grade / condition, extremely fine and extremely rare, significantly undervalued in the standard catalog, toned good very fine, rare. $1995 SOLD

Ex Donal Levy, 'MacDuinnsleibhe' Collection, Bonhams Auctions, 24 February 2004, lot 104 (withdrawn by vendor).

Dolley¹ described this type as "....one of the most intriguing in the whole of the Hiberno-Norse series. The dies are comparatively rudely executed, and portions give the impression of having been engraved instead of sunk with punches". Indeed, the distinctive style of this coinage and the fact that they predominately derive from a hoard unearthed near Limerick n 1833; led Dolley to air the theory that the coinage was perhaps the product of an Hiberno-Norse mint at Limerick. 

IR1506 - Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin, Phase V,  Penny, 0.78g, (c.1065-1095), ‘Ringerike’ type, abstract deign of curves around central annulet, blundered legend, rev., voided long cross type, with annulet in 1st quarter, hand in 4th quarter, curves in others, (SCBI British Museum 211-214;  S.6182), weakly struck in parts, otherwise toned, good very fine, very rare. $2645 SOLD

Provenance:
Ex Thomas Ollive Mabbott Collection (1898-1968), Schulman Auction, 26-28 May 1970, lot 1137.
Ex Spink Auction 191, lot 209.

Ex John Chown Collection, Spink Auction, lot 1145.

IR1507 - Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin, Phase VI (c.1095-c.1110), Penny, 1.14g., "Very Late and Degraded Imitations of Long Cross Coins", stylized head ultimately derived from the Long Cross type of Aethelred II left, crozier (bishops crook) in front, blundered legends,  rev., voided long cross, pellet and sceptre in alternate angles (S.6187,BNJ 1976, Brand #B51), tiny striking crack at 4 o'clock, good very fine, scarce, nice provenance. $1295 SOLD

 

The crozier or bishops crook on the obverse is an overt reference to the strength of the Christian faith amongst the mixed Irish and Viking population of Dublin. Indeed it may even relate directly to the authority under which the coinage was struck, i.e. an ecclesiastical one.