Until the reign of King Henry III of Englan (1216–1272), any need in England for coins worth more than one penny (which, at that time, was a silver coin) was met, at least partially, by the use of Byzantine or Arabic gold and silver coins which circulated among merchants and traders. However as commerce increased, so did the need for higher value coins. In 1257 Henry instructed his goldsmith, William of Gloucester, to produce a coinage of pure gold.