© Heritage Auctions
© Heritage Auctions
½ Penny - James II
1690 year| Bimetallic: copper centre in pewter ring | - | 22 mm |
| Issuer | Ireland |
|---|---|
| King | James II (1685-1691) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 1690 |
| Value | ½ Penny (1⁄480) |
| Currency | Second Irish Pound (1460-1826) |
| Composition | Bimetallic: copper centre in pewter ring |
| Diameter | 22 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#55175 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 94% |
Reverse
Crowned harp with legend around.
Script: Latin
Lettering: MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX
Interesting fact
The ½ Penny coin from James II's reign in Ireland in 1690 is interesting because it was made of a bimetallic material, with a copper center surrounded by a pewter ring. This unique composition was likely chosen to address the issue of coin clipping, which was a common problem at the time where people would shave off small pieces of precious metal from coins to collect the valuable metal. The bimetallic design made it more difficult to clip the coin, as it would have required cutting through both the copper and pewter layers. This coin is a rare example of a bi-metallic coin from this time period and is highly sought after by collectors.
