28th.  That the aforesaid scheme is to be viewed and considered by a King and Parliament, that will do themselves and their nation justice, who will with hearts and hands, stem that tide and current, as never to suffer so dutiful and loyal a people to be ruined and undone without relief.

APPENDIX IX

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE VARIOUS SPECIMENS OF WOOD’S COINS

The following descriptions of the various varieties of Wood’s coins, taken from a note in Monck Mason’s “History of St. Patrick’s Cathedral” (ed. 1819, pp. xcvi-xcvii), may be interesting to the student.  The two varieties of the coins given as illustrations in this volume are reproduced from specimens in the British Museum.

Monck Mason obtains his information from Simon’s “Essay on Irish Coins,” Dublin, 1749, 4to; Snelling’s Supplement to Simon issued in 1767; and the edition of Simon’s work reprinted in 1810.

With the exception of No.  II. of this list all of Wood’s coins had, on one side, “the king’s head laureat, looking to the left, with this inscription, GEORGIUS, DEI GRATIA, REX.  On the reverse is the figure of Ireland, represented by a woman sitting, beside her, a harp:  the differences consist chiefly, in variations in the attitude of the figure, and in the date of the coin.”

No.  I. 1722.—­Hibernia, with both her hands on the harp, which is placed on her right side; her figure is full front, but she looks towards the right; round her this inscription, HIBERNIA, 1722. (Simon, plate 7, Numb. 160)

No.  II. 1722.—­Hibernia is seated as in the last, but has her head turned to the left, on which side there is a rock; round her is inscribed, HIBERNIA; in the exergue, 1722; on the obverse the usual head, the inscription, GEORGIUS D.G.  REX. (Snelling, plate 2, Numb. 24.)

No.  III. 1722.—­Hibernia, in profile, looking to the left, holding, in her right hand, a palm branch, resting her left on a harp; round it, HIBERNIA, 1722. (Simon, plate 7, Numb. 161.)

No.  IV. 1723.—­Hibernia, as in the last; round her, HIBERNIA, 1723.  (Simon, plate 8, Numb. 169.)

It was some of this coin that was submitted to Sir Isaac Newton for assay.

No.  V. 1724.—­Hibernia, as in the last two, differing only in the date.  (Mentioned by Simon, but no engraving given.)

No, VI. 1724.—­Hibernia, seated as in the three preceding; round her, HIBERNIA:  in the exergue, 1724. (Snelling, plate 2, Numb. 26.)

Mason notes of this specimen:  “Mr. Snelling does not specify, particularly, in what respect this coin differs from those which precede; his words are, ’different from any other, and very good work, especially the halfpenny, which is the finest and broadest piece of his money I ever saw, and belongs to Mr. Bartlet.’  They do not, however, appear to have attained to circulation in Ireland.  A few might, perhaps, have been struck off by the patentee, to distribute among his own, and the minister’s friends.”