PREVIEW: THE MICHAEL J MCKEEVER COLLECTION OF IRISH COINS: 9 MAY

A long-standing numismatist, Michael J McKeever has been inspired by his dual nationality, American and Irish, to put together a fascinating collection of Irish coinage, with a fine selection offered in this sale.

Some of these go back to the earliest days of Dublin coinage, in the 990s, when the first locally struck coins imitated those of Aethelred II of England. Such Hiberno-Norse coins enjoyed a short run, with earlier Long Cross designs coming back into favour as early as 1015 after the forces of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, routed the Viking King of Dublin, Sihtric Silkbeard, and his allies at the Battle of Clontarf. Boru died in the battle.

One of the highlights in this sale dates to Sihtric’s rule, a silver penny by the London moneyer Ælwine, in imitation of Long Cross coinage. Struck in the name of Sihtric, with a draped bust left, it is inscribed SIHTRC RE+ DYFLMN to the obverse, with ÆLPINE MO LVND to the reverse. In extremely fine or better condition and extremely rare, it is estimated at £2,000-2,600.

Three other silver Dublin pennies form further highlights, each from the moneyer Færemin, and each in imitation of Long Cross coinage. The first is in the name of Thymn (c.1000-c.1010), showing a draped bust left, and inscribed DYMN ROE+MNEDI to the obverse and FIENEMIN MO DYMI to the reverse. With some minor points of die rust in the reverse field, it is struck on a round flan, virtually mint state with original bloom and has a guide of £2,000-2,600.

A second Thymn penny is a little double struck with two small scratches to the reverse but is in otherwise extremely fine or better condition and is pitched at £1,500-2,000.

The third penny is issued in the name of Æthelred (c.995-1015), with a draped bust left, and inscribed ÆTHELRED RE+ AIGMNO to the obverse and FÆREMIN M·O DYFLI to the reverse. Again, well-struck on a neat round flan, and about extremely fine but slightly creased, it carries hopes of £1,200-£1,500.