Troubled coins

[Figleaf]

Good news for your collection and for me also.

Peter

[brandm24]

Troubles stamps on newer coins...late 1990s and 2000s...aren't often seen, with some exceptions. Those exceptions include political slogans pertaining to events, and in a few cases organizations, that occured or were organized in that period. The most prominent being coins stamped by RIRA (Real Irish Republican Army) which splintered from the IRA in 1998. They've been prolific counterstampers. Nearly all of the dozens I've seen appear on high-value British coins, mostly 1 and 2 Pound pieces, and are stamped heavily across the Queen's portrait.

This 2008 10p is stamped ONH, the acronym identifying the paramilitary Oglaigh Na hEirann (Soldiers of Ireland). The ONH was formed in 2008 from disaffected members of RIRA. Though small, numbering probably no more than 50 volunteers, they carried out a series of bombings, shootings, and punishment attacks until 2018 when they declared a ceasefire. At that point some ONH members formed a small group known as the Irish Republican Movement. Their status today is unknown to me. RIRA, however, continues but is known now as the New Irish Republican Army or simply the IRA.

This ONH stamp is the only one I've ever seen. It was acquired from a source in Belfast in 2015.

Bruce

[brandm24]

While looking at the ONH wall graffiti in the above picture I noticed that there was a slogan or something else painted on the wall earlier. It's mostly been removed but was wondering if anyone can make out what it said...or a least part of its message. I can see a few letters but not enough to translate it.

Bruce

[Figleaf]

Do you have a high resolution pic and can you ask the man to move away?

On the bottom row, the only thing that's clear is STO... The next letter is not a P.

Peter

[FosseWay]

I think it's ...STON followed by a space and a longer word beginning with E.

The ...STON word is quite likely either a place name or a surname.

[eurocoin]

Traced the wall and building. It can be found here. On the photo of 2015 that can be seen in the link, the ONH mural is also still visible. It has long since been removed and also been replaced multiple times by other murals. On the desktop version of the Google Maps website you can browse the several photos Google Street View has made of the building over the years. The building is that of the former Seàn MacDíarmada sports club.

Unfortunately Google Street View didn't have a photo of the building when it still depicted the earlier 'ston' mural but the photos did offer clues about a few of the erased words. Using that information, after some searching I found the photo below which answers your question. Background information about the sentence can be found on this website, where a similar mural in a nearby street is being described.

[Figleaf]

 

[brandm24]

Yikes, didn't know Sherlock Holmes was here on WoC.   

Bruce

[brandm24]

The RNU (Republican Network for Unity / Poblachta'igh do Aontiu') was ostensibly the political wing of the ONH though the relationship is murky at best. When the ONH disbanded in 2018 it denied any involvement with the RNU. This type of denial is common among these political and military organizations however, so the truth is unclear.

In any case, the RNU, a left-wing Socialist political party, was founded in 2007 under the unwieldly name of "Ex-POW's and Concerned Republicans Against RUC / PSNI & MI5" At the time they were considered a pressure group and didn't register as a recognized political party until October, 2013. After the disbandonment of the ONH in 2018, The RNU carried on and is still active today. Their strength and amount of influence in Northern Irieland politics is probably minimal.

This coin and the last can probably be considered companion pieces. The two were acquired from the same source in Belfast in 2015 and are very similar in appearance, even down to the dark staining on the planchets. Both are British 10p coins dated 2007 and 2008 respectively whuch fits well with the founding dates of both organizations. The font and style of the stamps are a perfect match which suggests a common maker...my source, perhaps? As is the case with the ONH example, this is the only example of an RNU stamp i've seen.

The image of the graffiti is from the Falls Rd. in West Belfast.

Bruce