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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rial(l, n.² Also: riale, ryal(l, ryale; riel(l, ryell; rayal(l; rayell; real(l; rawill. [Cf. e.m.E. ryall, ryolle (1473), riale (1488), riall (1526) a gold coin worth ten shillings, issued by Edw. IV of England in 1465, also ryal(le (1547) a Spanish coin, OF roial, royal (13th c. and 1316 in Larousse), also Spanish real, adj. used as n., = a Spanish coin, all f. as Rial(l,adj. (adv.) and n.¹] A name given to various coins.1. A French gold coin. 2. An English gold coin (see also the quot. for 1547–8 under b (1) below). 3. A Spanish silver coin; a real. Also in real of aucht. 4. A Scottish silver coin, of the face value of 30 s., issued in the reigns of Mary and James VI.

a. With specification of the country, or reign, of issue, etc. b. Without such specification.Early examples refer chiefly, perh. only, to the French rial.Ryel of 2, ?Plate ryell, the Spanish coin real de plata. Pistolet ryell, ?a. (1) 1451 Acts II 40/1.
The rial of France sal haf cours for vj s. viij d. 1488 Treas. Acc. I 79.
In rialis of France 1488–91 Ib. 167.
Be fifty foure Fraunce riallis of gold(2) 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. fol. 120.
i Spanȝe riale 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 216.
Ane schip … whairin was gottin of Spaines ryallis about 11000 lib. 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 21.
Grantis … to bring hame siluer to serue his grace purpois of the fynnes of the Spanye ryall 1575 Orkney Oppress. 11. 1612 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I c.
The space of forane money maid current at 50 s. The Spanis ryall, xlv s. [etc.] 1683 Proclamation. Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. 53.
That all Spainish ryals … shall be current at fifty six shilling Scots each rial(3) 1600 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 122.
3^xxxj ryellis of 8 1610 Edinb. Test. XLVI 67.
Ryellis of aucht at 1 s. the peice 1610 Crim. Trials III 100.
Ane kist full of ryellis of aucht 1654 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 144.
The number of tuentie sewine ryallis of aught belonging to the kirkwork(4) 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 413.
That thair be cunyeit ane penny of silver callit the Marie ryall 1567 Ib. 556.
That thair be cunyeit ane penny of silver callit the James ryall 1567 Treas. Acc. XII 76.
With letters of proclamatioun … of the new cunȝe callit the James ryale(5) 1584 Perth B. Ct. 28 July.
Ane Inglis ryell(6) c1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 34a.
Ine ane wyer letell pores 4 scor dockatis of ryellis of 2(7) 1652 Edinb. Surgeons 241.
Ane plate ryell and ane coper shilling(8) 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 6ab.
Deborset in Lesbone … xix crouns xxviii s. for the pestoletis ryellisb. (1) 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 297.
Ane rydar, ane ryale, ane unicorne 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 41.
viij ducatis of wecht and tua riales 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 74. 1547–8 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 571.
Our saidis auld innymeis, tending to … caus thair cunȝe sik [as] the riale … to haif passage in this realm 1572 Elgin Rec. I 134.
Ane golden ryall allegit worth thre libs. 1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 27a.
Sauld … ii pes of quhit cloyth at ii ryellis 1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 262.
Suim villains has used to gilt suim siluer riellis, baith doubill and singill 1620 Melrose P. 372.
The rois noble, quart decue and ryallis jumpis neirest with youre maiesteis coyne 1631 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. IV 302.
The single ryall, weyghing twa deneirs fyftene graines [supra allowed to have course within this kingdome], for sax shillings aucht penneis 1641 Conv. Burghs IV 546.
For preventing of inbringing light ryalls and cardiques 1642 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 69.
And the ryals to passe for 53 s. 4 d. the same being 14 drop weight haveing 4 graines of remeid 1652 Dumfries Kirk S. 7 Oct.
He had … made false ryals, caried fals letters to the English 1653 Glasgow B. Rec. II 276.
The gentilman … had receavit them in the townes rentis befoir any scrouple was in passing of ryellis 1654 Ib. 297.
The moneys that was gottine … befoir the downe crying of the ryellis 1695 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 253.
Therefore we … hereby prohibite all ryalls commonly called cobbs and their fractions to pass otherwayes then by weight 16.. Admir. Ct. Form 64.
I have heard some that in Spain the crowne wes sex ryalls(b) a1600 Dundee Shipping P. 67.
3 dokats 6 rayalis c1604 Ib. 78.
Rayallis 1654 Stirling Ant. II 15.
There was bot tuo rayells(c) c1633 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 127.
I grant me to be restant him 15663 reals 1647 J. Hope Diary (1919) 134.
The realls at 56 s. the peice(d) 1553 Dundee B. Ct. II fol. 267b (10 Nov.).
The sovme of xj merkis & ane half rawillis(2) 1507 Treas. Acc. III 334.
To the king himself, quhilk wes set on the syment riall and part cunȝeit in riales thareof, xx Franch crounis, summa xiiij li. 1573 Reg. Morton I 78.
Ane thowsand markis in ryellis a1602 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 73a.
Ine xl Ss ine [MS ine xl Ss] ryellis Ib. 76a.
Ine ryellis(3) 1590 St. A. B. Ct. 2 Sept.
For ane xx sous ryell(4) 1634 Bk. Mackay 289.
Certain great soumes of money reallis … advancit, payed, and delyvered to me