The interesting sub-type with the date written as 10r, one of several abbreviations used for December(!) on this issue.

So why does a coin need a date expressed in months?  Good question – let’s start at the beginning:

History tells us that King James II of England was deposed and fled to France in 1688. In 1689 he surfaced in Ireland in an attempt to reacquire his throne. Short of money, he issued a series of coins struck in base metal to pay for the supplies he needed.  (Bearing his likeness, with his name written in the Latinate Iacobus II). These coins are known as ‘gun money’ because legend has it that they were struck on planchet stock produced from melted down cannons.

The coins are dated by year and month based on James’ commitment to redeem them (one month’s allotment at a time) for proper precious metal coins after he was back in power.

Alas, with his defeat at the Battle of Boyne in 1690, James II lost his bid to re-ascend to the throne and the coinage issue became worthless (except to collectors, a few hundred years later).

This one is a pleasing, original chocolate brown, with sharp detail on a nice, unimpaired planchet.

$600

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