"The Three Crowns of Ireland: A Numismatic Magpie’s Reflection on the Spending Turned into Knowledge" by Dr Alexey Shitvov

Three crowns arranged vertically have long been regarded as the ancient arms of Ireland, with numerous speculations made with respect to the origins and symbolism of the image. In this short article, inspired by the purchase of a groat specimen of the 'three crowns' coinage struck in Ireland during the reign of Henry VII, the author revisits the heraldic roots of the symbol within and beyond the Irish context. An argument is made that the badge was originally contrived by an English officer of arms with a hereditary reference to legendary King Arthur and later was adopted by Richard III for the coinage in Ireland.. A shorter version of the article was published in June 2024 issue of the UK Coin News magazine. Read the full story here.