Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2023 Global Showcase Auction 14-21 Aug 2023
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GREAT BRITAIN. Gold "Touch Piece" Medal, ND (1660-85). Charles II. PCGS Genuine--Plugged, EF Details.
MI-477/86. Weight: 3.50 gms. Obverse: Archangel Michael standing right, spearing the dragon to lower right; Reverse: Ship under sail left. Rather well restored with the plugged hole, with holding being a common aspect of these "talismatic" types. Rather heavily cleaned, but with great overall detail remaining.
MI-477/86. Weight: 3.50 gms. Obverse: Archangel Michael standing right, spearing the dragon to lower right; Reverse: Ship under sail left. Rather well restored with the plugged hole, with holding being a common aspect of these "talismatic" types. Rather heavily cleaned, but with great overall detail remaining.
Pieces such as this served as form of talisman which could be touched by the sovereign and then presented to the infirm, many times those suffering from scrofula. This act would serve to reinforce the idea of divine right, in that it was God, through the sovereign, who was healing the sick, with the sovereign as the conduit. As such, the holes applies to these touch pieces is obvious, in that they became an object kept by the bearer at all times.
Estimate: $700 - $1000