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British Silver Coins - King James II.

                                                          James II., 1685 to 1688.

    James II., during his short reign, conducted his coinage in England upon the same principles as that of his brother; of the same denominations, size, weight, and fineness.

   Crowns: The king's bust is turned to the left, laureate, the hair long, the shoulders clothed in antique mantle, IACOBVS II DEI GRATIA. Rev. similar to those of Charles II., but without the letters in the angles; the dates are 1686, ANNO REGNI SECVNDO. Rud. xxxv. ii. MB. 1687. TERTIO. MB. 1688. QVARTO. Sn. xvii. 36. MB. The crown of 1686 is very rare, and scarcely ever in good preservation; the arrangement of the hair differs very slightly from that upon the later years. That of 1688, in very find condition, sold at Edmond's sale for £1..11.6.

  Half-Crowns: These resemble the crowns, but the hair is different, curling forwards towards the neck, dates, 1685, PRIMO. MB. 1686. SECVNDO. Rud. xxxv. 1. Sn. xvii. 28. MB. 1686. TERTIO. 1687. TERTIO. MB. In the course of this year the bust was a little changed, the curls being directed from the neck as upon the crowns. 1687. TERTIO. MB. 1688. QVARTO. MB.

  Shillings: The head upon the shillings is similar to that upon the earlier half-crowns; they are milled with oblique lines, and are dated 1685. MB. 1686. MB. 1686. Rud. xxxv. 3. Sn. xvii. 21. MB. 1687. MB. 1688. MB.

  Sixpences: The head upon the sixpences resembles that upon the later half-crowns; they are milled with oblique lines, and are dated 1686. Rud. xxxv. 4. Sn. xvii. 14. MB. 1687. MB. 1688. MB.

  Groats: Bust laureate, hair short, neck bare. Rev. IIII. crown above, Legends as upon other coins, dates 1686. MB. 1687. Rud. xxxv. 5. Sn. xvii. 11. MB. 1688. MB.

  Three-Pences: Same as groats, but III. dates 1685. MB. 1686. Rud. xxxv. 6. Sn. xvii. 8. MB. 1687. MB. 1688. MB.

  Half-Groats: Same as groats, but II. dates 1686. MB. 1687. Sn. xvii. 5. MB. 1688. Rud. xxxv. 7. MB.

  Pence: Same as groats, but I. dates 1685. MB. 1686. Rud. xxxv. 8. MB. 1687. Sn. xvii. 2. MB. 1688. MB.