Coins, Numismatic Books, Tokens and Historical Medals

A collection of medals awarded to the Irish politician George Colley:

European Customs Union, 1968, a bronze medal signed Grunberg, rev. poem by Jules Romains, 68mm; 10th Anniversary of the European Investment Bank, 1968 [struck 1971], a plated bronze medal, unsigned, rev. the Dea Monetæ, 81mm; Opening of the SNIA Ireland Ltd Manufactory, Sligo, 1972, a silver medal by Lorioli, Milan, obv. stylised equestrian scene, 70mm; European Economic Union Conference, Paris, 1972, a silver-gilt award medal, unsigned, named (George Colley, Ministre des Finances), 81mm; 15th Anniversary of the European Investment Bank, 1973, a bronze medal, unsigned, rev. modelled on a Greek stater, 81mm; 20th Anniversary of the European Investment Bank, 1978, a plated bronze medal, unsigned, rev. modelled on a Parisii stater, 81mm; Establishment of the European Currency Union, 1979, a silver award medal, unsigned, obv. modelled on a medieval French royal seal, rev. named (M. George Colley), 73mm [7]. Virtually as struck, a rare group; all except fifth in cases of issue £200-400

Third and fourth only illustrated. George Colley (1925-83), b. Dublin, son of Harry Colley, a veteran of the 1916 Easter Rising and a Fianna Fail politician; childhood friend and political mentor of the Irish prime minister Charles Haughey, from whom he split to fight a contest for the leadership of Fianna Fail, 1979, losing narrowly by 44 votes to 38; studied law at University College Dublin; elected to the Dail 1961; Minister for Education 1965-6; Minister for Industry and Commerce, 1966-70; Minister for Finance 1970-3; opposition spokesman for Finance during the Fine Gael/Labour coalition, 1973-7; reappointed Minister for Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, 1977-9; d. at Guy’s Hospital, London, of a heart ailment, 17 September 1983.

Colley was the architect of a series of reckless economic policies during his second term as Minister for Finance in the late 1970s. His policy of low taxation and continued high government spending resulted in massive foreign borrowing and an enormous balance of payments deficit, culminating in rampant inflation, industrial unrest and the resignation of Jack Lynch as Taoiseach in December 1979