Henry VII, 1485-1509. Angel, mm. Cross Crosslet, 1504-5. Class V. Pierced “Touch Piece”, Likely From The Royal Touching Ceremony And Touched By King Henry VII.
 
Obv: St. Michael vanquishing Satan (dragon), both feet on dragon, cross crosslet spear shaft, double saltire stops, one saltire by halo. Rev. Shows a ship sailing right with a large cross (serving as a mast) above a quartered royal shield. The letters 'h' (Henry) and a Tudor rose appear flanking the cross. The Latin legend translates to "By Thy cross, save us, O Christ, our Redeemer", single rosette stops.
 
Reference: S. 2187.
 
The “touching” was a common practice in Britain during medieval times, characterized as a test of royal legitimacy, where the King or Queen at the time would hang symbolically holed coins (now talismans) about the neck of the infirmed, in order to cure illnesses such as the Scrofula disease. The Angel was the coin of choice due to its representation of the defeat of the dragon, a symbol of Evil, associated with disease. With sole ceremonial purpose, the Touch Piece was designed to replace the gold Angels, preserving the Archangel design, but adding the Royal Ship on the reverse, in allusion to the monarch. The practice lasted for centuries, Queen Anne was the last monarch to “Touch” in England.
 
A well struck and appealing example, an interesting piece with likely links to King Henry VII himself. Nice clear details throughout, a few old light crease marks.