RARE Irish Silver Farm Medal Hickey New Ross 1954

Late in the 15th century the Dublin Guild of Goldsmiths was mentioned for the first time, although it probably existed prior to that date.  The earliest record of a maker's mark and a town mark, occurred in the year 1605.  Most provincial towns had gold and silver smiths from early times.  They produced both church and domestic plate of superb design and workmanship.

Medals, medallions and medalletes have been used for many centuries elsewhere in the world to commemorate notable events and personalities, but, possibly because of our history Ireland was late in this field and it was not until late in the 18th century that medals were produced in Ireland. 

Most medals were dye-struck, a space being left for an engraved inscription, but some of the finer specimens were totally hand engraved. 

William Stephen Mossop (1751-1805) a Dublin born self taught man, in the last quarter of that century started to strike fine medals for a variety of purposes.  Mossop's portrait medals were reputed to be very good likenesses of their subjects.

Other well known Irish medalists of the 19th century were William Woodhouse, John Jones, Parkes, Wyons. 

Ireland can be justly proud of its agricultural and farming society medals.  Pre-eminent among these organisations was the Dublin Society, which, founded in 1731 'for improving husbandry, manufactures and other useful arts and sciences', issued its first medals in 1763. 

The occasions for which the medals were issued were extremely varied and related to almost every facet of Irish life and extended at times to matters abroad.  The subjects covered included numerous aspects of the professions, sciences, farming, horticulture, beekeeping, horse breeding, manufacturing, religion, politics, elections, soldiering, universities and on and on and on.  A medal was struck even on the death of the reknowned greyhound Master McGrath!!

Nearer our own times we have medals issued in 1966 to celebrate the Jubliee of the 1916 Rising with a portrait of Padraic Pearse. 

Irish medals have fantastic imagery, from the Irish dancer, the tug-o'-war, the hurler, the boxer, the snooker player, the cricket player, the harp, shamrock, Celtic interlacing - all hand engraved in silver and sometimes with enamel inserts.  They often show a combination of classical and folksy design unique to Ireland. 

Irish sterling silver medals are scarce and therefore would be a good investment for a discerning collector. 

The harp uncrowned, stamped by the Dublin Goldsmiths Company, certified that the article was assayed and was found to meet the standard fineness of 92.5 percent pure silver.  The remaining 7.5 percent was an alloy and , although the nature of this was never specified , copper has been the only metal used for many centuries.

The maker’s mark identified the maker and usually consisted of the initials of his name and surname.  On some of the earlier articles, the initials were accompanied by a sign or symbol such as a crown, a star, or an animal.  This mark was stamped by the maker on each piece before sending it for assay. 

The date letter was simply a letter of the alphabet used to represent the year of assay and was stamped by the wardens.  In the early years, twenty letters were used in a series to cover twenty years but this system was discontinued after 1678.  Each letter series differed from the preceding series in style or perhaps in the design of the shield within which the letters were struck.  Consequently it is relatively easy to distinguish, for instance, between the letter A as used for 1638 and that employed for 1658.  The use of a date was not a requirement specified in the charter of the goldsmiths but apparently was introduced by the Company in 1638.
 

The Hibernia mark consists of a seated female figure holding a harp – a symbol of Hibernia, the Latin name for Ireland.  Originally a duty mark it was introduced in 1730 and was stamped after assay on every piece on which duty had been paid.  After 1807, it lost its significance as a duty mark and is now regarded as the special mark or town mark of the Dublin Goldsmiths Company.
 

Since 1890 only four special marks other than the standard four hallmarks have been struck on Irish silver.  For 1966 a “Jubilee mark” was introduced only for that year to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916.  Designed as a hand holding a flaming sword – in Irish “an cláiomh solais” or “sword of light” – the mark bears the date 1916 to the right above and 1966 to the left below.
 

For 1973 a mark consisting of an adjusted representation of a gold collar from Gleninsheen in County Clare, dating to about 700 BC, enclosing the date 1973 was struck to honour Ireland’s entry into the European Economic Community.
 (Originally found in Co. Clare during railway construction in 1854.  A solid sheet-gold cresentic plate  decorated collars with applied terminals )

For 1987, to commemorate the founding of the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin, and for 1988 to celebrate the Dublin City Millennium, the representations of the arms of the Company and of the city, respectively, were used. 

Measures:  Medal:  2.00" diameter. Weighs 64g.