28 
COINS. 
When the King, in March, 1642, fled from London, it was to 
his beloved city of York that he came on March 181h, with the 
Prince of Wales and the Court. Owing to the troublous times 
the King stayed within the city walls, in Sir Arthur Ingram's 
house, on the north side of the Minster. James, the King's son, 
aged 9, was created Duke of York as a compliment to the city, 
and on April 20th was invested with the Order of the Garter at a 
meeting of the Knights in the Chapter House. The royal press 
was set up in the house (St. William s College) which had been 
occupied by Sir Henry Jenkins, “ and at so short a distance from 
the royal residence as to admit of quick and unobserved com¬ 
munication between the King and his printer.” 
The King, in making preparations for having money coined at 
York from the plate he expected to be supplied with, despatched 
orders to London for appliances from the Tower. The materials 
sent by Briot were shipped, but were intercepted at Scarborough, 
and Briot was called upon by Parliament for an explanation. 
“About the latter end of January 164-f the King's mint began to 
coin in Sir Henry Jenkins’ house,” 1 the house now known as St. 
William’s College. 
The coins struck at York were half-crowns, shillings, sixpences, 
and threepences. The reverses bear a Latin inscription rendered 
“ I reign under the auspices of Christ.” On the half-crowns the 
King is on horseback with EBOR below ; the shield on the reverse 
is either square or oval and garnished. The mint mark is a lion 
passant. Some have a minute B in the centre of the O of Ebor 
under the horse, probably for Briot who may have coined them in 
1633. A York half-crown of Charles I. was struck on a square 
piece of metal; it was in the Maxwell Collection and in November, 
1888, was sold for £25. 
From the death of Charles I. until the year 1672, owing to the 
want of small change, traders issued private halfpennies and 
farthings made of copper or brass. From 1665 to 1670 above 
sixty different York tradesmen 2 issued these private tokens. 
The Government of Charles II. was induced to issue a national 
copper coinage. In 1672 farthings were put into circulation, and 
tokens at the same time were suppressed. 
1 Christopher Hillyard, 1644. 
2 Drake’s Eboracum,” cx. 
