James II Coins
James was King of England and Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII. He ruled from 1685 until 1688 when he was deposed in the ‘Glorious Revolution.’ James was a Catholic and it was this religious incompatibility that resulted in him losing the throne. During James’ short reign, Crown and Guinea coins were produced.
Precessor : Charles II | Successors : William of Orange & Mary II
Born in 1633, James became King of England following the death of his brother, Charles II, in 1685. After the English Civil War and the subsequent restoration of the monarchy, James still faced political turmoil over the King’s divine right of rule, along with distrust of his personal Catholicism.
Anti-Catholic riots in England and Scotland made it seem that only his removal could prevent another Civil War. His daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange, revolted against him and the English political elite, along with James’ army who deserted him in support of the new King and Queen. After defeat at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, James returned to France and spent the rest of his life in exile.
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