Ryal: Edward IV in Ship with a Shield of Arms and Rose (obverse); Sun with Fleurs (reverse)

The first and second reigns of Edward IV, who was restored to the throne, were a result of the dynastic civil war between the houses of York and Lancaster, usually known as the Wars of the Roses. The fighting flared up sporadically from 1455 to 1485. With the accession of Edward IV the gold supply was almost nil and after four years the output had been reduced to 300 ibs. Something had to be done without disturbing the country, so a new coin was issued, to be known as the Ryal or Rose Noble. This coin was to have a value of ten shillings. However the gold noble had become the standard professional fee (6s 8d), so a new gold coin known as the angel was issued, with a value of 6 shillings and 8 pence. It became the famous coin that served Tudor and Stuart sovereigns as their presentation piece at the ceremony of touching for the king's evil. The angel pictured St. George slaying the dragon, some say as an allegory of the overthrow of the house of Lancaster by that of York. This is the last of the Noble-type coins. Though the reigns changed over the years, the type of coin varied little in design. During the reign, branch mints were set up in York, Bristol, Coventry, and Norwich.