File:'Gun Money' Crown of James II 1690 (FindID 80198).jpg

English: Crown 'Gun Money' of James II 1690.

   Obverse: King on prancing horse advancing left with drawn sword. Inscription: IACOBVS II BRI FRA ET HIB REX. 

 
   
   Reverse: Central crown with four square shields surrounding, one on each axis. The shields bare the heraldic devices of (Clockwise) England (three lions - passant), Scotland (Lion -rampant), France (three fluer-de-lys) and Ireland (Harp). The Scottish shield is barely visible. Above the crown on either side of the English Shield is ANO DOM. And beneath the crown either side of the French Shield is 16 90. Inscription: 90 MAG BR ET /ORE TRI/VMPHO.

 
   
   This coin has been restruck from a half crown to a crown. Parts of the original half crown design and inscription are still visible through the later striking and this explains the differences in the inscription which varies from the standard issue. This restriking is due to a shortage of metal late in 1690 causing James II to reduce the size of the half crowns and shillings, the old halfcrowns were also restruck as crowns.

 
  
  On the obverse the nose and the back of the head from the original half crown are clearly visible and the inscription is garbled. The half crown legend should read IACOBUS REX DEI GRATIA and the crown inscription should read IAC II DEI GRA MAG BRI FRA ET HIB REX.

 
  

The reverse is similarly distorted as the second striking is poor. The elements which show through from the original are the two diagonal septres which pass through the central crown and the R on the right hand side of the crown. The reverse half crown inscription should read: Date (1690) MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX and the crown inscription should read: CHRISTO VICTORE TRIVMPHO.