This is the earliest Bank of Ireland £3 note that I have come across.
The scarcest Bank of Ireland notes tend to be from this era, when the bank was starting to add branch names to its notes. This banknote lists Carlow and Kilkenny as branch offices.
Bank of Ireland Three Pounds 1846.
It appears that the Provincial Bank of Ireland may have adopted the £3 denomination before the Bank of Ireland. A £3 Provincial Bank proof is known with the date 1826.
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Provincial Bank 3 Pounds Proof 1826.jpg (127.26 KiB) Viewed 24181 times
Last edited by DOC on 01 Aug 2018 19:23, edited 1 time in total.
ThePloughman wrote: ↑04 Jul 2018 00:49
There is supposed to be a very early Ulster Bank 3 Pounder also, 1840s I think.
Yes, here is an example of an issued £3 Ulster Bank note cut in half. The note is signed by John Raphael and dated 5th November 1845. These notes are extremely rare.
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Ulster Bank 3 Pounds 5th Nov. 1845 John Raphael.jpg (84.91 KiB) Viewed 22017 times
The Hibernian Bank made an earlier attempt to circumvent the Bank of Ireland’s monopoly for note issue within 50 miles of Dublin. In 1826, it issued tokens without a promissory statement. Issued examples of £1 and 30 Shillings tokens are known but to date the £3 token is only known in proof form (attached). The Bank of Ireland also objected to this issue and The Hibernian Bank was forced to withdraw it
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Hibernian Bank 3 Pounds Proof ca. 1826.jpg (49.24 KiB) Viewed 20926 times
The Belfast-based Joint Stock Banks were never enthusiastic issuers of £3 notes. No examples of £3 notes are known for the Northern Banking Company in either specimen or issued form. However, it is possible that £3 notes were issued given that the Bank issued £4 notes.
No issued examples of £3 notes are known for the Belfast Banking Company although it appears that £3 notes were prepared as part of the Original Issue (1827-1850). Evidence for this is provided by a £3 proof printed in the early 1920’s using printing plates from the Original issue.
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Belfast Banking Company 3 Pounds Proof.jpg (64.42 KiB) Viewed 20618 times
It appears that only the larger banks with an all-Ireland branch network issued the £3 denomination over a prolonged time period.
From research into quantities issued, the denomination was a lesser-used one, similar in circulation to £10 and £20 notes.
The Agricultural & Commercial Bank of Ireland was a short lived Joint Stock Bank that issued notes from 1835-1840. Three pound notes were issued but are extremely rare. A proof £3 note is known from the First Issue (ca.1835) without branch name. An example issued by the Waterford Branch in 1838 has also been recorded. This is part of the Bank’s Third Issue.
No £3 notes from the other two short lived Joint Stock Banks from this era, The Provident Bank of Ireland and The Southern Bank of Ireland, have been seen.
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Agricultural & Commercial Bank of Ireland 3 Pounds Proof ca.1835.jpg (135.54 KiB) Viewed 19253 times
Agricultural & Commercial Bank of Ireland 3 Pounds 15th Nov. 1838 Waterford.jpg (155.13 KiB) Viewed 19253 times
That Waterford note is the only example I have seen of an Agricultural & Commercial Bank £3 note.
It is quite a decent grade note too.
DOC wrote: ↑29 Sep 2019 11:59No £3 notes from the other two short lived Joint Stock Banks from this era, The Provident Bank of Ireland and The Southern Bank of Ireland, have been seen.
I have only ever seen £1 notes from these two banks.
The Private Banks appear to have adopted the £3 denomination before the Bank of Ireland. This example from 1808 is the earliest one that I have seen although it is likely that earlier examples exist.
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Waterford Bank Atkins & Co. 3 Pounds 1st June 1808.jpg (119.67 KiB) Viewed 19042 times
Here is a £3 Provincial Bank proof note for the Clonmel Branch from the late 1820’s. Issued examples that are cut-cancelled and rejoined are also known.
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Provincial Bank 3 Pounds Proof ca.1826-1830 Clonmel.jpg (175.78 KiB) Viewed 17710 times
Here is an early National Bank of Ireland, Moate Branch, specimen note for £3. This type is thought to date from 1836-1843 (PMI). A distinctive feature is that all sides of the note are framed by a ‘Shamrock Border’. No issued examples are known.
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National Bank 3 Pounds Specimen 1836-1843 Moate.jpg (164.74 KiB) Viewed 16738 times
National Bank 3 Pounds Specimen 1836-1843 Detail.jpg (124.15 KiB) Viewed 16738 times