Gunmoney Halfcrown 1690

Own a piece of the Battle of the Boyne.
All soldiers/armies must be paid and deposed King James 11 found a unique way to do so when fighting his son in law at the Boyne for the English throne.
This is a historic Irish "Gunmoney" Halfcrown (XXX Pence) issued by the deposed King James II during the Williamite War in Ireland.

​These fascinating coins are called "gunmoney" because, lacking silver and gold to pay his army, James II melted down emergency scrap metal—including old brass cannons, church bells, and kitchen utensils—to mint a fiat currency. They are unique in British and Irish numismatic history because they feature the specific month of issue, as they were intended to be redeemed for real silver coins sequentially after the war (a promise that was never kept after his defeat).

​Coin Details:

​Obverse (Face): Features the laurel-crowned bust of King James II facing left. The Latin inscription reads IACOBVS • II • DEI • GRATIA (James II, by the Grace of God).

​Reverse (Back): Features a crown over crossed royal sceptres, flanked by the monogram JR (Jacobus Rex).

​Value Marker: The Roman numerals XXX above the crown signify its face value of 30 Pence (1 Halfcrown).

​Date: The top clearly reads 1690.

​Month: At the bottom, though worn, one of the early months of 1690 May.

​Inscription: Around the edge reads MAG • BR • FRA • ET • HIB • REX (King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland).