Scarce Bristol Mint Gold Ryal of King Edward IV

Edward IV, first reign (1461-70), gold "Rose" Ryal of Ten Shillings, light coinage (1465-70), Bristol Mint, King standing in ship holding sword and shield, B in waves below for Bristol, E on flag at stern, rose on hull, legend and beaded borders surrounding, trefoil stops both sides, initial mark crown on reverse only (1466-69), ED WARD'. DI: GRA'. REX. AnGL'. Z FRAnC'. DnS’. I.B., rev. rose at centre on sunburst, over cross with floriate and lis terminals, crown over lion in each angle, all within beaded and linear tressure of eight arcs, fleurs in spandrels, beaded circle surrounding, IhC'. AVT'. TRAnSIEnS. PER. mEDIVm. ILLORVm: I.BAT, note stop after last I, weight 7.74g (Schneider 419; N.1550; S.1954). Toned, some lacquer at top of obverse and on corresponding part of reverse, one area both sides with scrape mark, otherwise good very fine.

The mint mark of crown was only used from 1466 to 1469 during the first reign of King Edward IV at the Bristol, London and York mints. Unfortunately, most of the accounts do not survive from this circa 50 month period at the current time. Accounts at Bristol immediately following this mint mark period do survive however and show a mere £3,201 of gold being struck the year following from 30th September 1469 to 29th September 1470. The next 7 months after are also missing, but the final account over 14 months from 1st May 1471 until the Bristol Mint closure on 23rd July 1472 do survive and show only another £2,638 output of gold. These are very small outputs especially compared to London where known outputs are always five figure sums and often 10 to 20 times more.

Provenance:
Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, July-August 1962, item 6885.
Ex Clarendon Collection, part I, Bonhams, 28th March 2006, lot 596.