artnouveau

postwar

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 Henry VIII

(1509-1547). Gold angel. (5.20 gm). first coinage, angel, mm. portcullis . St. Michael slaying dragon / Cross and arms on ship. Friedberg 158. S.2265

Near EF.........................$sold

THE NETHERLANDS
Wilhelm von Bronckhorst, 1556-1573.

BATENBURG

Angelot d´or 1561. (5,05 g.) St. Michael killing the dragon//ship bearing shield See. Delm. 690; Fb. 9. (In the style of English Queen Mary) Extremely Rare - missing from most major angel collections. Very well struck angel and dragon

Good VF (obverse better)...........sold

Queens of England Elizabeth I,

(1558-1603) fourth issue, angel, mm. latin cross, the archangel Michael slaying the dragon, rev. ship holding shield, cross above, E and rose at sides (S.2525; B&C C19) Provenance Tkalec

Near EF............................Sold

Kings of England Charles II,

(1660-85), gold touch piece, ship sailing left, rev. St Michael and the dragon, pierced

EF Rare thus..........................sold

British Coins
Anne (1702-1714)

Touch Piece, Gold, by J. Croker, The Prince, rev. St. Michael, 3.07g/12h (Woolf O5 R3). Pierced for use. Rare.

Good VF .................................sold

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

EF...............................sold

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