Description:
Irish Gunmoney brass shilling, 1689
Diameter 25mm
The obverse features the laureate bust of James II facing left and the inscription 'IACOBUS II DEI GRATIA', Latin for 'James II By the Grace of God'. The reverse features a crown with two sceptres crossed behind and topped by fleurs-de-lys. To the left and right are the initials 'JR' for 'Jacobus Rex' (King James). Above is the number twelve in Roman Numerals, indicating that the equivalent value of a shilling was twelve pence. Below is the word 'Nov', for November, the month in which the coin was issued. Around the outside the inscription reads 'MAG. BR. FRA. ET. HIB. REX. 1689', a Latin abbreviation meaning 'King of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 1689'. James II was deposed as King of Great Britain, France and Ireland on 11th January 1689. However he retained the support of the French and Irish and fled to Ireland where he was finally defeated at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690. Due to his circumstances there was a shortage of regal coinage and Gunmoney was a token coinage, minted at either Dublin or Limerick. Like all token coinage Gunmoney was supposed to be redeemable once regal coinage was available.