Ireland 1690 Apr shilling
This specimen was lot 75375 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2025), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "IRELAND. Gun Money Shilling, 1690 April. Dublin Mint. James II. PCGS MS-62. Large size. "Apr:" variety. A charming survivor with a well centered and detailed strike. The only strike weakness is on the date, however given the month, the date can only be 1690. Presenting with a rich chocolate patina, this nearly Choice piece is sure to see much attention. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection." This shilling was struck July 1689 thru April 1690. After James II was deposed as king of Great Britain in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, he fled to France. He landed in Ireland in early 1689 to raise the flag of revolt on behalf of the Catholic population. Lacking bullion to strike conventional coinage, church bells and worn out cannon were melted down to make a series of token coinage in sixpence, shilling, half crown and crown denominations. This coinage is unusual in that it is dated by month and year. The "XII" stands for twelve pence, its face value. It was to be redeemed in silver after the revolt was successful but James was defeated and forced to return to France while the Irish suffered devastation and land confiscations. William III allowed the coinage to continue to circulate as pennies, half pennies and farthings.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: brass, 25 mm diameter. A few exist in silver.
Catalog reference: S-6581K (4th Edition); KM-94.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of the Coins of Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man, London: Coincraft, 1999.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Man & Lundy), Pre-Decimal Issues, 2nd edition, London: Spink & Son, 2003.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction: Ancient & World Coins, featuring selections from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- Ireland 1689 Feb 6 pence
- Ireland 1689 Mar shilling
- Ireland 1690 Mar 1/2 crown
- Ireland 1690 Apr 1/2 crown
- Ireland 1690 May shilling
- Ireland 1690 May 1/2 crown, large size
- Ireland 1690 June shilling, small size
- Ireland 1690 Jun 1/2 crown, small size
- Ireland 1690 crown gun money
- 1690 half penny, struck in silver
- 1690 half penny, pewter with brass plug
- Coins and currency dated 1690