Spur ryal

Spur ryal

The Spur Royal was an extremely rare English gold coin issued in the reign of King James I. The coin is a development of the earlier Rose Noble, or Ryal which was worth ten shillings when issued by Kings Edward IV and Henry VII, and fifteen shillings when issued by Queens Mary and Elizabeth I.

The Spur Royal, so called because the sun and rose on the reverse resemble a spur, was introduced during James I's second coinage (1604-1619) when it initially had a value of fifteen shillings (15/-), but in line with all gold coins its value was raised by 10% in 1612, to sixteen shillings and sixpence (16/6). The design of this first issue shows on the obverse the king in a ship holding a sword and shield, surrounded by the legend IACOBUS DG MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX -- "James by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland". The reverse shows a rose over a radiant star, with a lion and crown in each quarter surrounded by the legend A. DNO FACTUM EST ISTUD ET EST MIRABILE -- "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous (in our eyes)".

During James' third coinage (1619-1625) a new-style lighter spur ryal was issued with the value and weight reduced to fifteen shillings (15/-). On the obverse is a lion holding a sceptre over the royal shield which divides the value "XV" for fifteen shillings, surrounded by the legend IACOBUS DG MAG BRIT FRA ET HI REX -- "James by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland". The reverse shows, as before, a rose over a radiant star, with a lion and crown in each quarter surrounded by the legend A. DNO FACTUM EST ISTUD ET EST MIRABILE -- "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous (in our eyes)".----For other denominations, see British coinage.


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  • spur-ryal — Spur royal Spur roy al (sp[^u]r roi al), n. A gold coin, first made in the reign of Edward IV., having a star on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur. In the reigns of Elizabeth and of James I., its value was fifteen shillings. [Written… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spur-ryal — spurˈ royˈal, spurˈ ryˈal or spurˈ rīˈal noun A former English fifteen shilling piece of gold, bearing a star like a spur rowel • • • Main Entry: ↑spur …   Useful english dictionary

  • spur ryal — noun or spur rial or spur royal : the 15 shilling gold ryal of James I with a design on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur …   Useful english dictionary

  • spur-rial — Spur royal Spur roy al (sp[^u]r roi al), n. A gold coin, first made in the reign of Edward IV., having a star on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur. In the reigns of Elizabeth and of James I., its value was fifteen shillings. [Written… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spur-royal — Spur roy al (sp[^u]r roi al), n. A gold coin, first made in the reign of Edward IV., having a star on the reverse resembling the rowel of a spur. In the reigns of Elizabeth and of James I., its value was fifteen shillings. [Written also {spur… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spur royal — noun see spur ryal * * * spur royal, an English gold coin of the time of James I, worth fifteen shillings, named from a figure on the reverse suggesting the rowel of a spur …   Useful english dictionary

  • spur rial — noun see spur ryal …   Useful english dictionary

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  • List of British bank notes and coins — List of British bank notes and coins, with commonly used terms.CoinsPre decimalPrior to decimalisation in 1971, there were 12 pence (written as 12d) in a shilling (written as 1s or 1/ ) and 20 shillings in a pound, written as £1 (occasionally L… …   Wikipedia

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