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(OVERSTRIKE)


Image Information

Type Coin
Title (OVERSTRIKE)
Date 1691
Country Ireland
Institution
/Catalog #
PI-61
Denomination halfpenny
Description Limerick Siege Halfpenny (Overstruck on Irish Gunmoney Shilling / 1691) Andrew De Felice / Hingham, Massachusetts, USA. (Ot. 22, 2022) ($250). By the end of 1690 it was clear that the devalued gunmoney coinage issued by the Jacobites to finance the Williamite War of 1689-1691 was inadequate to support the war effort. Thus a new base metal coinage was introduced in April, 1691 and was struck largely over the old gunmoney planchets. They became known as Limerick Hibernias or Limerick Siege Money. Limerick, in western Ireland, was the victim of two efforts by Williamite forces to dislodge the Jacobite army occupying the city. The first, an unsuccessful attempt in August-September, 1690 was followed by a second between August-October, 1691. The second attempt had the desired effect and forced the abandonment of the city by the army of King James II. The gunmoney undertype can be seen at times on the more lightly overstruck of the Limerick examples. Significant undertype shows clearly on this coin, particularly on the obverse. While not a counterstamp by the accepted definition, an overstrike such as this employs the same techniques and achieves equal results so for all intents and purposes is one. The seller acquired the coin from a metal detectorist who recovered it in Yorkshire in the North of England several years ago. Though dark and showing some environmental damage it still exhibits good detail and is very recognizable as to type. Because of its history this is one of the more interesting coins in my collection.

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