Pre-Long Beach Auction #91

Great Britain. Angel, ND NGC Unc. S.2265; Fr-158. Henry VIII, 1509-1547. First coinage, mint mark Portcullis crowned. Pierced for use as a touchpiece. Obverse, St Michael slaying dragon. Reverse, ship with coat of arms. Obverse appears to be struck from rusty dies, but surprisingly high grade. NGC graded Uncirculated, Details (Holed, Cleaned).
* Persons of royal blood were thought to have a 'God given' power of healing various illnesses by touch, and the gold Angel coins which were first struck in Britain in 1465 are found officially pierced, to be used as touch pieces by the monarch.
The Angel was a coin favoured at the 'Touching' ceremonies because it has an image of St Michael slaying the Devil (represented as a dragon). St Michael was especially venerated for his role as a captain of the heavenly host that drove Satan out of Heaven, but he was associated with the (broader) practice of casting out of devils, and was also regarded as a guardian of the sick.
Henry VII codified past practices into a 'Divine Service' thereby creating a Touching Ceremony which lasted, barely changed, for 160 years. To replace the alms which were previously given to the sick there was now a gold coin or healing-piece. To an extent the pierced Angel coin assumed magical powers. His successor, Henry VIII was regarded as the author of the debasement of England's gold and silver coinage, but it is interesting to note that although Henry debased the coinage by reducing its weight, he kept the weight of the Angel consistent. Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,700