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Gold

Gold Angel Coins

The Gold Angel of Philip VI of France (1341) is the first gold coin to portray St. Michael slaying the dragon (see the medieval section.) There is no evidence that this coin was used in any sort of healing ceremony.

But the tradition of King as Healer of Scrofula (tuberculosis) through the laying on of hands and the provision of a talisman, goes back at least to Robert II of the Franks(996-1017). In England, Edward the Confessor was thought to have received the power directly from Saint Remigius.

The English Gold Angel first made its appearance in 1470 (Henry VI) and the legend on the reverse "Per Crucem Tua Salsva Nos Christie Redemptor" suggests that may have been intended as a healing piece from the first. It also was a piece intended to depict the King as divinely elected and divinely inspired.

From 1633 the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church contained a ceremony for this, wherein the King or Queen would present the touched person with a gold Angel coin. From the reign of Charless II onwards Angels were struck soley for ceremonial use.

The last English ceremony was performed by Anne on 30 march 1712. George I discontinued the practice as "too catholic," but Silver touch pieces were used in France by the pretenders James II and James III, and then in Italy by Charles III and Henry IX .

Stylistically these coin designs provide a wonderful illustration of the progression of imagery from medieval to early modern times.

Kings of England Edward IV, second reign (1471-83),

Golf Angel, 5.15g., type XIV, London, St. Michael slaying the dragon, saltire at end of legend, rev. ship bearing shield and cross, E and rose at sides, reads no xpc redemtor, trefoil stops, m.m. annulet on obverse only ; N.1626; S.2091

Beautifully struck piece, with all devices and legends clear. Very rare thus.

PCGS Graded MS 62...................$10,000

Queens of England Elizabeth I (1558-1603),

Sixth issue, Angel, mm. hand, 5.17g/12h (Brown/Comber C39; SCBI Schneider 790; N 2005; S 2531

lightly struck in places but pleasing on a nice round flan. Rare in choice mint state.

NGC Graded MS 63..........sold

Kings of England . James I. 1603-1625. AV Angel (27.5mm, 4.50 g, 12h). Second coinage. Tower (London) mint; im: tower. Struck 1612-1613. (tower) · IACOBVS · D‘· G‘· MAG‘· BRIT‘· FRA‘· ET · HIB‘· REX ·, Archangel Michael slaying dragon lying at his feet to right / (tower) · A · DNO · FACTVM · EST · ISTVD ·, ship bearing coat-of-arms; above, cross between I and rose. Schneider –; North 2081; SCBC 2616. Pierced for use as a touch piece.

Rare.

Good VF..............................$3600

James II. 1685-1688.

AV touch piece. 1.97 gm. 19 mm. Tower (London) mint. The royal ship in full sail left; IACO II D G M BR FR ET HIB REX / Saint Michael the Archangel slaying the Dragon of Evil; SOLI DEO GLORIA. Woolf, Sovereign, dies O1/R2. 

Rare, especially in this condition. struck on a thin slightly wavy flan with flashy prooflike surfaces. Pierced, as made.

EF.............................................$2200

STUART. James II. In exile, 1688-1701.

AR Touch Piece Medalet (19.5mm, 1.55 g, 1h). Paris mint. Dies by N. Roettiers. Struck after 1695. IAC · II · D · G · M · B · F · ET · H · REX ·, The Prince, viewed from astern, under sail right / SOLI · DEO · GLORIA ·, Archangel Michael slaying the Dragon. Woolf, Sovereign 47 (dies O1/R1); MI 611/20.

Exceedingly Rare piece - only a few examples known, and a miniature masterpiece of engraving by Nicolas Roettier.Holed for suspension, as made

Choice EF. ......................$3000

James III (son of James II 1688-1766),

Italian-made pierced Silver Touchpiece, 3.11g, three masted ship in full sail left, iac.iii.d.g.m.b.f.et.h.r., rev St Michael and dragon, soli.deo gloria (MIii316/140; Woolf 3/4; Noon 326) Provenance DNW.
Extremeleyt Rare, esp in this condition

Rare.

Near EF...............................$1800

Henry IX (2nd son of James III)

1725-1807, Pierced silver touchpiece, (3.23g.) Struck in Italy by giocchimo Or Giovanni Hamerani - three masted ship in full sail right, h.ix.d.g.m.b. f:et h.r.c.ep.tvsc. finely executed, toothed border both sides, rev.struck en medaille, St. Michael killing dragon left, soli.deo gloria. (Woolf 74:1), ex DNW.
Extremely Rare, esp in this condition

GOOD EF..............sold

Anne (1702-1714)

Touch Piece, Gold, by J. Croker, The Prince, rev. St. Michael, 3.07g/ Woolf O5 R3).

Rare condition for this very rare touch piece. Struck on a thicker flan with nice clean sufraces. Pierced for use, as made.

Near EF ...........................$2500