Scotland Ryal, Circulation Strikes (1565-1571)

Ryals are large, hammered coins made at the end of Mary Queen of Scots' reign, and at the beginning of her infant son James VI's reign. They were Scotland's version of talers and other crown-size coins that had become common in Europe at the time. With a face value of 30 shillings they were equivalent to approximately one month's wages for a skilled worker.

Ryals were issued in two distinct varieties: The "Palm" type of 1565-67 under Mary and husband Henry Darnley's rule showing a tortoise climbing a palm tree, and the "Sword Dollar" type of 1567-71 under James' rule after Henry's murder and Mary's abdication of the throne. All examples are crude; double-striking and planchet cracks are common. Many examples also bear a thistle counterstamp that was applied by the government in 1578 to increase their value to 36 shillings and 9 pence after several years of inflation and rising bullion values.