Irish Political Tokens (Kells Collection)

Counterstamped coins related to the Troubles (1969-1998).|

The Kells Collection is a small group of 19 coins, 17 of which I acquired from May thru December, 2014 from Jane Copperthwaite in Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland, ($2-$4 apiece). The 18th coin was acquired in January, 2018 at $8. The 19th example added in July, 2019 for $10 Though mostly unremarkable in themselves, there's an interesting story connected to the collection.

According to the seller, they were sold or given to her by a family friend who was a postal employee. These defaced and damaged coins were routinely pulled from circulation when received at the post office, and were later sent to the mint for destruction. The environmental damage apparent on some is a result of them being stored outdoors in an outbuilding or shed on postal property. Apparently, some were at least partially exposed to the weather.

See also the overall collection catalog at https://archive.org/details/IrishPoliticalTokenInventory.