| Description |
Purchased from Matt R** / Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA. (Nv. 14, 2022) ($29).
The claddagh is a centuries old Irish symbol comprised of a heart clasped by two hands with a crown above. The symbols stand for love, loyalty, and friendship. Its design is credited to goldsmith Richard Joyce c1690 / 1700 from the fishing village of Claddagh, Co. Galway. The symbols stamped on this 1787 English ? penny are an obvious statement of loyalty to the British crown. Some renditions are absent the crown and are known as Fenian Claddaghs, but they didn't appear until later years. That style indicates a desire to be free of English rule.
There are actually three separate stamps on the coin but two are over struck and nearly indistinguishable. Apparently, the third was added for that reason and is quite clear. There's a small planchet split at 5 o'clock due to the heavy multiple strikes. |
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