Ancient-Jewellery |
Email: glypticbob@gmail.com Web site: https://www.ancient-jewellery.com/ |
Code: 10883
This is a rare gold Angel of King Charles Ist, struck at the Tower of London between 1640 - 1641 A.D. It is pierced for use as a touch-piece. This is an official piercing, most of these Angels were only struck for this ceremony and in a very limited number. They were given out (or touched) by the king himself (so King Charles Ist would have actually held this coin). Once given as part of a healing ceremony, the coin would have been worn around the neck (the reason it is pierced) on a white silk cord (see The Gold Angel: legendary coin, enduring amulet). After the execution of King Charles in 1649, these 'touch-pieces' were highly sought by Royalists as a memorial to their martyr, even today such pieces are very rare and desirable amulets.
Plenty of research has been carried out into the 'touch-pieces' of King Charles (see the tower gold of charles i - British Numismatic Society PDF).
This is a good excavated example, with a nicely struck ship on the reverse. The obverse is a little worn (caused by being worn and through rubbing).
DENOMINATION: Angel
CULTURE: Stuart England
MONARCH: King Charles I
DATE: 1640 - 1641 A.D.
MATERIAL: Gold
SIZE: 25mm diameter
WEIGHT: 4.02 grams
ATTRIBUTION: Spink 2684A