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Scottish Coins ~ James VII (1685-1689)
Despite the fact that Charles II produced many offspring, unfortunately none of them were legitimate, and at the end of his reign in 1685 his younger brother ascended to the throne. James II had previously converted to Catholicism, and this raised alarm with prominent Church of England officials. Subsequent acts by James VII only caused further concern when he began appointing Catholics to prominent positions in the government and on councils. Thereafter he lost support of the English army, and the non-support of his daughter Anne all but assured that it was only a matter of time before the inevitable came about and the English army invited William of Orange, and his wife, Mary, daughter of James VII to ascend the throne. James VII did not put up much of a fight, was captured, escaped, then re-captured and let to escape at the direction of William of Orange. James VII immediately fled to France where he sought refuge and support for his attempt at retaking the Crown in Britain. He traveled to Ireland to begin his reconquest of the Kingdom, but subsequently was defeated at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690. He returned to exile in France, where he died in 1701. But the Stewart attempt at governing Britain was not over, but would still continue for more than fifty years, only ending with the final defeat of Bonnie Prince Charley in 1746 at Culloden. Numismatically this reign lasted a mere 2 years as coins were only struck from 1687-1688, because not many denominations were struck, and they actually were devalued against the English Sterling at a rate of 13:1 as opposed to 12:1 as previous, they were rather unpopular. The Forty Shillings of 1687 was the first Scottish coin to bear a lettered edge. Denominations used during this reign:Silver60 Shillings, 1688, Exists only as restrikes made in 1828 by Matthew Young40 Shillings, 1687-168810 Shillings, 1687-1688 |
Page last updated on 5th August 2011 Года All pages and images copyright © David Parrish 1999 - 2011 Года
