Ireland 1689 Jan 6 pence
This specimen was part of lot 3092 in Goldberg sale 98 (Los Angeles, June 2017), which sold for $235. The catalog description[1] noted, "Ireland. Pair of 'Gunmoney' issues. 6 Pence and Shilling, 1689. James II. Both pieces with striking flaws. Lot of 2 coins. Very Fine and second piece Extremely Fine." This brass sixpence was struck Jan 1689 thru May 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. 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: copper.
Catalog reference: S-6583; KM-93.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 98: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2017.
Link to:
- 1686 half penny
- Ireland 1689 Nov 1/2 crown
- Ireland 1690 Mar 1/2 crown
- Coins and currency dated 1689
- return to coins of the Ireland