St Patrick's Day March 17th: Irish Notes Bearing this Date

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DOC
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St Patrick's Day March 17th: Irish Notes Bearing this Date

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St Patrick's Day (March 17th) became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903. The general absence of this date on Irish banknotes suggests that in practice, it was a bank holiday for many years prior to this date. Curiously, a few examples bearing the March 17th date exist: a Ffrench's bank Dublin 25 shillings from 1813 and the 'mimeograph' notes of trader William Murphy of Killarney, Co.Kerry. The example attached is for a 1 shilling 7 1/2 pence note (equivalent to 1/14th of a guinea).

Irish Republican Bonds issued in dollar denominations in the USA during the 1860's sometimes bear the March 17th date. Although not banknotes, these bonds have found interest among banknote collectors. An examples of a $5 O'Mahony bond is attached.
Attachments
Ffrench's Bank Dublin 17th March 1813 25 Shillings.jpg
Ffrench's Bank Dublin 17th March 1813 25 Shillings.jpg (111.81 KiB) Viewed 9332 times
William Murphy Killarney 1 Shilling Seven Pence Halfpenny 17th March 1797.jpg
William Murphy Killarney 1 Shilling Seven Pence Halfpenny 17th March 1797.jpg (99.52 KiB) Viewed 9333 times
Fenian Bond 5 Dollars 17th March 1866.jpg
Fenian Bond 5 Dollars 17th March 1866.jpg (63.08 KiB) Viewed 9334 times
Last edited by DOC on 16 Aug 2018 21:27, edited 3 times in total.
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Mac
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Re: St Patrick's Day March 17th: Irish Notes Bearing this Date

Post by Mac »

A noteworthy point is that the date 17 March does not appear on any of the Lavery notes, or on B Series or C Sereies notes, or on any of the Bank of Ireland or National notes from 1922 onwards. This is possibly because it is a holiday, and not a working day in ireland.
I haven't checked the others yet!
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Re: St Patrick's Day March 17th: Irish Notes Bearing this Date

Post by DOC »

I have not seen a banknote issued by any of the Irish Joint Stock Banks with the March 17th date, pre or post 1929. If you find one, I would be interested to see a scan :)
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Re: St Patrick's Day March 17th: Irish Notes Bearing this Date

Post by ThePloughman »

Paddy's Day would be a nice novelty date to have in my collection.
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Re: St Patrick's Day March 17th: Irish Notes Bearing this Date

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Here is an illustration of a 5 Guineas note printed for Michael Furnell & Co., Limerick Bank. The note is unissued but bears the date 17th March 1804. It is most likely a proof note.
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Michael Furnell & Co. Limerick Bank Proof 5 Guineas 17th March 1804.JPG
Michael Furnell & Co. Limerick Bank Proof 5 Guineas 17th March 1804.JPG (101.25 KiB) Viewed 7348 times
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