emergency coinage

**davemac** · 10-18-2009, 06:12 PM

emergency coinage known as gun money was struck with the the month as well as the year.
JamesII landed at kinsale on march 12th 1689 to recover his throne from williamIII.
To pay his franco-irish army james had an emergency coinage struck largely of scrap metal from old cannons old cannons being of brass the coinage was virtually worthless except as a metal promise to redeem -in gold or in silver at a later date
Eventually even the gun money metal became difficult to get or produce in a sufficient quantity so james had existing coins overstruck.thus sixpences became shillings. Shillings became halfcrowns.and halfcrowns were over-struck to become crowns.
Redemption however relied on james being successfull.
But when he reached the north things went from bad and the battle of the boyne nearly ended this.
The french never in decisive numbers went home.
William eventually defeated james and now took a terrible revenge on james his soldiers and anybody who had honoured the gun money
He proclaimed the coins to be legar tender but with new values
Large half crowns revalued at one penny
Small half crowns etc =three farthings
Shillings and sixpences=one farthing
The coin i have here is a large shilling aug 1689
Just wanted to share this lilte bit of history with you
Dave

**De Orc** · 11-12-2009, 06:10 AM

Lovely coin Dave and a great bit of history, it is something I am still trying to add to my collection

**davemac** · 11-12-2009, 06:17 AM

thanks steve
and i am still trying to get more
hard to get in high grades without paying over the price
dave

**De Orc** · 11-12-2009, 06:19 AM

Have to agree Dave every time i have seen one on ebay and gone for it been out bid LOL

**davemac** · 11-12-2009, 06:33 AM

likewise and the buy it now sellers know how to ask
lol dave

scottishmoney · 11-12-2009, 07:44 AM

Thanks for sharing the tale of these coins, always found them fascinating and so connected to British and Irish history.

I myself want one of the 1691 Limerick halfpennies - such a cool and enigmatic piece.

randygeki · 11-12-2009, 08:01 AM

thanks for sharing that

TheBigH · 11-12-2009, 08:35 AM

Thanks for posting, and great coin!

ericl · 11-12-2009, 10:49 AM

Gun money are the most affordable coins available minted between 400 and 1750

goossen · 11-13-2009, 09:50 AM

Excellent post!

**davemac** · 11-13-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottishmoney

Thanks for sharing the tale of these coins, always found them fascinating and so connected to British and Irish history.

I myself want one of the 1691 Limerick halfpennies - such a cool and enigmatic piece.

thanks i still have to get one my self

Quote:

Originally Posted by randygeki

thanks for sharing that

thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigH

Thanks for posting, and great coin!

thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by goossen

Excellent post!