York struck gold for only a few short years under Edward IV, and this Half Ryal came out of that brief window in Mint State. The denomination was worth five shillings, half the value of the celebrated ryal, and it belongs to the light coinage introduced in 1464. Hammered gold of this era rarely escaped clipping, wear, or the melting pot, so a fully preserved York piece is a genuine prize. Cataloged as Spink S-1963, the type is far scarcer than the London issues collectors see most often.

The obverse shows the armored king standing facing in a ship, a sword raised in his right hand and a quartered shield of England and France held in his left. A banner streams behind him, a rose marks the hull, and the letter E beside the shield identifies the York mint. Waves and ropework run below the vessel in bold relief, while the surrounding legend stands sharp against the field. On the reverse, a rose over a radiant sun fills the center of a tressure of eight arcs, with crowned lions in the angles and a Latin legend around the rim.

NGC graded this Half Ryal MS-64 at 3.89 grams, a level very few hammered English gold coins reach. The surfaces keep soft original luster with warm yellow color, and the devices show strong definition on both sides, including the ship's detail and the sunburst reverse. Striking is well centered for a hand-hammered issue, and the flan is round and free of the clipping that plagues the series. For those seeking a high-grade example of Edward IV's York gold, this coin delivers on both quality and rarity.

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