As the British Civil War raged, King Charles I was forced to flee London for the relative safety of Royalist York. While there were plans pre-dating the conflict, for the establishment of a regional mint at York, the loss of the Tower mint in London to the Parliamentarian forces necessitated the mint’s rapid establishment. However, the mint didn't start production until late 1643. This was mainly because of the capture of Nicholas Briot’s coining equipment near Scarborough on 15 July 1642 as it was being shipped. The mint continued production until the city was placed under siege and later surrendered on 15 July 1644. Initially coinage struck at York during 1642 was produced from silver plate loaned and donated to the crown by Oxford University, Cambridge University, Sir Michael Wharton, etc. While tens of thousands of pounds worth, this silver however did not last. It is likely then that this later was struck from silver voluntarily either donated by various royalists or captured  from parliamentarians.