James II 1686 tin Halfpenny, some corrosion as usual, date on edge, ex Nicholson

James II (1685-88), tin Halfpenny with copper plug in centre, 1686, laureate and draped bust right, legend surrounding, IACOBVS SECVNDVS, rev. Britannia seated left on globe, holding olive sprig and spear with shield, blank exergue, legend surrounding, BRITAN NIA, edge inscribed in raised letters, NVMMOMORVM * FAMVLVS * 1686 *, weight 10.80g (Peck 543; S.3419). Environmental corrosion spots spreading from central copper plug, some other patches around rim and edge, some striking weakness to top of head, an otherwise attractive specimen for issue good very fine and extremely rare.

The Latin legends translate as "James the Second" on obverse and "of the Britains" on the reverse. The interesting edge translates as "The Servant of the coinage."

A tin coinage in lieu of the copper had been adopted at the end of the reign of Charles II, this being because the charges associated with and the price of copper that was being imported from Sweden had risen, and the Cornish tin miners were in need of a boost to their activity. Tin Farthings were issued first under Charles II dated 1684 or 1685 and for the public to accept what was seen as such a base coinage akin to lead and pewter, a small copper plug was inserted at the centre to give a tiny intrinsic value and making this the first bimetallic currency issued in the UK. The tin coins were expanded to include the Halfpenny for the reigns of James II and William and Mary but by 1692 the coinage had fallen out of favour and a reversion to a copper coinage occurred from 1694.

Provenance:

Ex Dolphin Coins, List 5, January 1994, item 6541.

Ex Dr Basil Nicholson Collection, Colin Cooke, Manchester, 2005, item 28.