Fenian Bonds

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ThePloughman
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by ThePloughman »

O'Mahony Branch, I guess I need to read up on these guys.
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DOC
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

The highest denomination observed for Fenian Bonds is $500. An unissued example of a Scanlon Bond is attached. These are very rare, particularly in issued form.
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Fenian Bond $500 Unissued ca.1866 Scanlon.jpg
Fenian Bond $500 Unissued ca.1866 Scanlon.jpg (228.12 KiB) Viewed 7948 times
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Mac
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by Mac »

Very nice, and not often seen! Do you have a picture of the reverse by any chance?
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DOC
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

Sorry, I don't have an image of the reverse :cry:
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

I came across this interesting, O’Mahony $20, Fenian Bond, which has the counterfoil attached. It provides some interesting insights into the issuing process. The bond is partially prepared for issue with the date added but still missing the name of the recipient.

It appears that the number on the left side of the note is the serial number (1666) while the letter C probably refers to the printing plate. I wonder what is the significance of the number on the right side of the note (335)? Could it be the page number of the register where the bond details are recorded?
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Fenian Bond O'Mahony 20 Dollars March 10th 1866.jpg
Fenian Bond O'Mahony 20 Dollars March 10th 1866.jpg (131.45 KiB) Viewed 6037 times
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Mac
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by Mac »

The 355 could be a batch number. The 1666 is listed on the counterfoil, but not the 355.
Also, the crop marks are still in place, indicating that this bond has not yet been cut down to size, suggesting (to me) that the signature and date were a part of the printing process - I doubt that the bonds would be cut down by hand individually.
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DOC
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

Just looking more closely at the Scanlon bonds and it suggests that the number on the right side of both types of bonds (O’Mahony and Scanlon) is the Register Number.

Examples of uncut $5 sheets indicate that notes with different plate codes could have the same Serial / Register number combination. An example of an uncut sheet is attached.
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Fenian Bond $5 O'Mahony Uncut Sheet 17th March 1866.jpg
Fenian Bond $5 O'Mahony Uncut Sheet 17th March 1866.jpg (82.59 KiB) Viewed 5933 times
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Mac
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by Mac »

These three have the same number on the right and on the left.
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DOC
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

The highest known denomination for Fenian Bonds is $500. Here are examples of O’Mahony $500 bonds, one unissued, the other a copy of an issued note in one colour tone. An interesting feature is that the serial numbers on these bonds add up to 251 (32/219 & 218/33) and both have the same plate number D.
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Fenian Bond 500 Dollars 7th Nov. 1862 O'Mahony.JPG
Fenian Bond 500 Dollars 7th Nov. 1862 O'Mahony.JPG (185.74 KiB) Viewed 4487 times
Fenian Bond 500 Dollars Unissued O'Mahony.jpg
Fenian Bond 500 Dollars Unissued O'Mahony.jpg (203.2 KiB) Viewed 4487 times
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Mac
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by Mac »

Nice to get a decent image of the 500 in colour. I have previously seen seen the monotone image in black.
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

Here is an interesting Irish National Bond associated with the Fenian Brotherhood which appeared recently on ebay. The bond is unissued but bears the same Sullivan signature as seen on Scanlon Fenian bonds. This provides evidence that the Irish National Bonds were associated with the Michael Scanlon (Robert’s Faction) rather than the John O’Mahony faction of the Fenians. These bonds were probably used by the former for donations less than $10.

Derek Young in an article in Coin News (June 1992) proposed that the Sullivan signature is that of D. O’Sullivan. Looking at the signature, this appears correct to me.
Attachments
Irish National Bond ca.1866 Unissued.jpg
Irish National Bond ca.1866 Unissued.jpg (158.32 KiB) Viewed 3696 times
Fenian Bond 10 Dollars ca.1866 Sullivan Scanlon.jpg
Fenian Bond 10 Dollars ca.1866 Sullivan Scanlon.jpg (221.6 KiB) Viewed 3696 times
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Jenny007
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by Jenny007 »

So does this help further, or do we know whose signature this is on my earlier posted sample?
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C1C6C6BC-C2C9-489F-9A9E-4E603BD78F3B.jpg
C1C6C6BC-C2C9-489F-9A9E-4E603BD78F3B.jpg (75.01 KiB) Viewed 3670 times
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DOC
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

Paper Money of Ireland reports a fully issued example for $1 signed by Martin A. Davey while the one you posted is signed by D.R. Sheil for $5. They are the only fully issued examples reported to date. These bonds were hand signed and most likely issued by clerical officers working in the bond issue department.
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Re: Fenian Bonds

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I recently found images of this Scanlan $500 Fenian Bond. It transpires that the reverse is the same as that of the $100 bonds.
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Fenian Bond 500 Dollars  Unissued O'Sullivan Scanlan ca. 1866.JPG
Fenian Bond 500 Dollars Unissued O'Sullivan Scanlan ca. 1866.JPG (105.46 KiB) Viewed 3457 times
Fenian Bond 500 Dollars Unissued  O'Sullivan Scanlan ca. 1866 Reverse.JPG
Fenian Bond 500 Dollars Unissued O'Sullivan Scanlan ca. 1866 Reverse.JPG (79.33 KiB) Viewed 3457 times
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DOC
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Re: Fenian Bonds

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Here is an interesting stage proof of an O’Mahony $10 Fenian Bond from ca. 1866. This rare item was offered for sale at the Whyte’s May 2023 Eclectic Collector Auction. An issued example with the complete design is also included for comparison.
Attachments
Fenian Bond 10 Dollars Proof ca. 1866 O'Mahony.jpg
Fenian Bond 10 Dollars Proof ca. 1866 O'Mahony.jpg (102.1 KiB) Viewed 3091 times
Fenian Bond 10 Dollars 14th April 1866 O'Mahony.jpg
Fenian Bond 10 Dollars 14th April 1866 O'Mahony.jpg (176.72 KiB) Viewed 3091 times
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Mac
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by Mac »

Interesting to see that the vignette and two portraits appear to be on a different plate to the black text and other detail on the proof.
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DOC
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

This rare O’Mahony $100 unissued Fenian Bond appeared recently on ebay. I have only seen Plate Codes A and B for this type of bond but this one has Plate Code D.
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Fenian Bond 100 Dollars O'Mahony ca. 1866 Plate Code D.jpg
Fenian Bond 100 Dollars O'Mahony ca. 1866 Plate Code D.jpg (140.79 KiB) Viewed 2946 times
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Jenny007
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by Jenny007 »

Attached Plate E and F for this bond type
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IMG_0833.jpeg
IMG_0833.jpeg (79.76 KiB) Viewed 2917 times
IMG_0832.jpeg
IMG_0832.jpeg (81.37 KiB) Viewed 2917 times
IMG_0831.jpeg
IMG_0831.jpeg (74.77 KiB) Viewed 2917 times
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DOC
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Re: Fenian Bonds

Post by DOC »

My reference there was to the $100 bonds which I should have referred to as denomination rather than type. Plate letters from A to G are known for the $10 denomination.
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Fenian Bond 10 Dollars 14th April 1866 O'Mahony Plate Code G.jpg
Fenian Bond 10 Dollars 14th April 1866 O'Mahony Plate Code G.jpg (92.76 KiB) Viewed 2916 times
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