James II AD 1685-1688 Silver Threepence AD 1685 Maundy Coinage

James II 1685-1688AD Silver Threepence 1685AD

S3415, 18mm, 1.37g

The Worcester collection of Maundy Coinage

The Worcester collection of Maundy coinage contains some 650 coins, carefully put together over three decades by an avid collector, who has now decided it is time to pass the coins on and allow others to enjoy them. There are many high grade examples, and rare issues amongst the collection, most coins will be offered individually at fixed prices, there are also a few sets.

James II was the younger son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria. Created Duke of York at birth he spent most of the Civil War in Oxford before escaping to Holland shortly before his father was captured and executed. Returning to England during the Restoration James was appointed Lord High Admiral and after several skirmishes led the navy to victory over the Dutch. He also became governor of the Hudson Baty company which established the first colonies in America. During the Great Fire of London James helped direct operations and is credited in helping to bring the fire under control.
James initially married Anne Hyde, a commoner, who bore him 2 daughters, Mary and Anne. He also had numerous mistresses including Arabella Churchill wife of John Churchill. In AD 1668 James converted to Catholicism although this was kept secret until the Test Acts forced James to renounce his faith which he refused to do forcing James to resign from all his public offices.
After his first wife died James remarried Mary of Modena. As his brother Charles II had no legitimate children James acceded the throne upon the death of Charles in AD 1685. Initially there was little opposition until one of Charles’ illegitimate sons, the Duke of Monmouth led a rebellion in the West Country later that year. This was brutally put down and those captured were severely dealt with by Judge Jefferies. Many were executed or else were transported abroad. Another rebellion in Scotland was also put down.
James became increasingly unpopular as he increased the number of Catholics in government. When His wife Mary gave birth to a son in AD 1688, thus securing a Catholic succession, it was claimed that the child was brought into the palace in a warming pan and that it was in fact illegitimate. The country rebelled and Parliament summoned James’ daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange. When William landed in Torbay James’ army disintegrated and James fled to France. William and Mary were subsequently crowned and episode was known as the Glorious Revolution.
Supported by Louis XIV James tried to reclaim his kingdom by landing in Ireland but after being defeated at the Battle of the Boyne James retreated to France where he died in AD 1701. James II was the last Catholic king of England.