£500
GOOD Details | ENGLAND. Charles II, 1660-85.
Gold Touchpiece, ND (1660-85).
Touchpieces were traditionally used as a talisman which could be touched by the monarch and then presented to the sickly and infirm to be worn about the neck. They were presented in a mediaeval ceremony to cure them of "Scrofula" or "king's evil" and served as a test of royal legitimacy. The monarch, as God's vice-regent on earth healed the sick on His behalf. Therefore, the majority of Touchpieces were holed and worn by the bearer to protect them. The Touchpiece had a purely ceremonial purpose, replacing the previously popular gold Angel in this ceremony, the royal ship was added to the design to represent the monarch. The practice lasted until the 18th century, when Queen Anne was the monarch to take part.
Archangel Michael standing right, slaying the dragon below; "SOLI DEO GLORIA" / Ship under sail left; "CAR · II · D G · M · B · FR · ET · HI · REX".
In secure plastic holder, graded NGC GOOD Details, certification number 6356326-004.
Reference: MI-477-86
Diameter: 19 mm.
Weight: 3.43 g.
Composition: Gold.
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