In this month's iAuction featuring world coins, scheduled to close on Sunday, November 2, we areoffering a relatively high quality example of an Irish "Gun Money" c Crown. Struck in Irelandduring the Williamite War by the forces of James II, the appellation is derived from one of thesources of the brass (and other base metals) used to strike the coins, the cannons that werecaptured in battle (other sources included church bells).

The obverse features a left facing portrait of King James II, and the reverse has a crownsuperimposed on crossed scepters. The date, 1689, and denomination XXX (30 Pence) are above, withSept. in script below. The idea behind the specified month was that in the event that James' forceswere victorious, the coins would be redeemable by month, for proper royal issue silver coinage. Asfate would have it, James' forces were defeated, and the Gun Money was never redeemed, butcontinued to circulate at discounted rates alongside regal coppers.

Because of the low quality metal used to strike them, most Gun Money coins are seen with porousplanchets, corroded surfaces, and are usually low grade. This NGC-certified AU-53 is a niceexception, and is a very nice example for type purposes.

To read the complete article, see:
September 1689 c Crown Gun Money (www.stacksbowers.com/NewsMedia/Blogs/TabId/780/ArtMID/
2678/ArticleID/64825/September-1689-189-Crown-Gun-Money.aspx)