ENGLAND. A choice York issue: The introduction of the ryal to English coinage. Edward IV. First reign, 1461-1470. Gold half ryal. 3.82 gm. 29 mm. York. Sun i.m. W&B VI. Light coinage. 1464/5-1470. King standing in a ship, facing, E (Eboracum) in the waves below; E-DWARD DI GRA REXANGL S FRANG, trefoil stops. (W&B VII, Pl XI:10) / A rose at the center of a radiate sun; ✵ DOMINE t NE t IN AVRORE tt TVO ARGVASME (t = trefoil, tt=trefoil colon) (W&B Pl. XI:9). S. 1963. N. 1558. Blunt and Whitton VI. Cf. Schneider 425. Extremely Fine; choice example, well struck, lightly toned, full round flan. Rare. (High quality examples of this coinage are particularly rare, an observation supported by a review of published examples. And all York gold coins are rare in high grade.).

The War of the Roses was a Plantagenet affair. Edward IV was a teenager when he ascended to the throne, replacing the ineffective Henry VI. This was an era when gold was in short supply, so Edward, a "somewhat headstrong and extragavant young man," introduced the lighter "new noble of gold," a "light coinage" that came to be known as ryal of 10 shillings. Half ryals "are much rarer than the large pieces with the exception of London...type VII with the I.M. Crown, and some are seldom obtainable." (information from Blunt and Whitten, BNJ Vol XXV)