E. S. TAYLOR.
I would have referred J. N. C. to either Pinkerton or Lindsay, where he would find a full account about his Irish halfpenny, but as he may not possess a numismatic library, perhaps you will allow me to trouble you with the extracts. Pinkerton says:
"In 1760 there was a great scarcity of copper coin in Ireland upon which a society of Irish gentlemen applied for leave, upon proper conditions, to coin halfpence; which being granted, those appeared with a very bad portrait of George II., and 'VOCE POPULI' around it. The bust bears a much greater resemblance to the Pretender; but whether this was a piece of waggery in the engraver, or only arose from his ignorance in drawing, must be left to doubt."
Pinkerton does not here specially refer to the type, where "the letter P is close to the nose:" but if J. N. C. can turn to Lindsay's Coinage of Ireland, 1839, he will find his coin engraved in the fifth supplementary plate, No. 16., and in the advertisement, p. 139., the following remarks on it:
"This curious variety of the 'voce populi' halfpence exhibits a P before the face, and illustrates Pinkerton's remark that the portrait on these coins seems intended for that of the Pretender: it is a very neat coin, perhaps a pattern."
BLOWEN.
Dog's Head in the Pot (Vol. iii., pp. 264. 463.).
—The sign is of greater antiquity than may be expected. See Cocke Lorelle's Bote:—
"Also Annys Angry with the croked buttocke
That dwelled at ye synge Of ye dogges hede in ye pot.