Whyte's THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR TIMED ON-LINE AUCTION 18 APRIL 2026

10 6 TWO COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS FOR THE CANONISATION OF ST. OLIVER PLUNKETT, 1975 Bronze. Designed by Imogen Stuart RHA (1927-2024) 3.25in. (8.3cm) Condition: Mint Provenance: Monsignor Peter Shields, Administrator in the Archdiocese of Armagh (1975); Thence by descent; Whyte’s, 12 December 2011, lot 85; Where purchased by the present owner Fallon, Brian, Imogen Stuart Sculptor, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2002, p.147, catalogue no. 117 (listed) Diameter of second medal 2ins. Inscription obverse reads, “Oliverius Archiep Arma Chan Martyr”; reverse read, “Sanctus 12.X.1975” and “Tyburn I.VII.1681”. Saint Oliver Plunkett (1629-1681) was ordained in 1654 and spent the years of the Irish Confederate Wars and Cromwellian conquest of Ireland (1649- 1653) in Rome. On his return to Ireland in 1670 he set up several schools to further the development of Catholicism in Ireland. He was later prosecuted for these actions and was arrested in 1679. Two years later he was found guilty of high treason “for promoting Catholic faith” and was hung drawn and quartered in Tyburn on 1 July 1681. This design was also used for ‘Canonisation of Oliver Plunkett’ commemorative [7p and 15p] stamps issued on 13 October 1975. Both medal and stamps were commissioned by Cardinal Conway. For further reading on the Canonisation of Oliver Plunkett see, Seanchas Ardmhacha: Journal of the Armagh Diocesan Historical Society, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1975/1976. Estimate €200-€300 (approx £170-£260) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 6