Lustrous ‘Gunmoney’ Halfcrown
IRELAND. James II. 1685-1691. Æ Halfcrown. ‘Gunmoney’ coinage. Limerick mint. Dated May 1690. Withers 2s6d May 90, 16/4; SCBC 6579. Pleasing original mint red. Good VF.
In 1688 James II fled from England to France and the English crown passed to his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange. After drumming up Catholic support on the Continent, James landed in Ireland in March 1689 to continue his struggle to regain control. Having insufficient funds to underwrite his war efforts, a plan was devised to issue official base metal token coins which would be exchanged for sterling silver once the war was won. Shortly after the coins' inception, months were added to the dates to facilitate a staggered redemption plan, once the war was won. The coins were made of brass from old cannon, bells and other scrap metal. They would later become known as 'Gunmoney' coins. After William III seized the Dublin mint after the Battle of Boyne, the coins were demonetized.
