Description:
Irish Gunmoney brass sixpence, August 1689
Diameter 21mm
The obverse features the laureate bust of James II facing left. The inscription reads 'JACOBUS II DEI GRATIA', Latin for 'James II By the Grace of God'. The reverse features a crown before two crossed septres which divide the initials 'JR', for 'Jacobus Rex', Latin meaning 'King James'. Above the crown is the number 6 in Roman Numerals, meaning sixpence. Below is 'Aug' (August) in script, this is the month in which the coin was produced. The inscription around the outside reads 'MAG.BR.FRA.ET.HIB.REX.1689', Latin, abbreviated meaning 'King of Great Britain, France and Ireland'. James II was deposed as King of Great Britain, France and Ireland on the 11th January 1689 but retained the support of the Irish and French. He fled to Ireland where he was not defeated until July 1690 at the Battle of the Boyne. These circumstances led to a shortage of regal coinage and so Gunmoney, a token coinage, was minted in either Dublin or Limerick. Like all token coinage Gunmoney was supposed to be redeamable once regal coinage became available again.