18th Aug, 2026 10:00
Out of the Ordinary
279
A gold King's healing touch-piece
late 17th century, touched by King James II of England (1685-88),
to cure the recipient from the ‘King’s Evil’, the obverse depicts a three-masted ship 'The Sovereign of the Seas' at full sail, legend and outer toothed border surrounding a legend which reads 'IACO. II. D. G. M. B. FR. ET. HI. REX', the reverse shows St Michael slaying the dragon with a lance, legend and outer toothed border surrounding legend 'SOLI. DEO. GLORIA'
18-19mm diameter, 1.84g
Footnote:Since the medieval period, it was believed that a touch from royalty could heal the 'king's evil' or scrofula (morbus regius), a swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck caused by tuberculosis, which, if untreated, turned into sores. The belief was that healing could be achieved in the monarch’s role as the anointed representative of Christ. This then became formalised in 'touching ceremonies' which allowed the monarch's divine powers to be witnessed by the masses.
A common practice in Britain during medieval times, and the 'touching' continued for centuries, with Queen Anne (1702-14) recorded as the last monarch to take part in England. The demand for the royal touch was so high that bronze or copper admission tokens were introduced to keep a record of numbers. At the ceremony, the sufferer of illness was presented with a gold touch-piece handled and touched personally by the King or Queen; the pieces would commonly be hung on a ribbon and worn as a necklace. Under the Commonwealth during the Cromwell period, the ceremony was stopped. When the healing ritual was reintroduced at the Restoration of Charles II, 1660-1685, a gold medalet was created, as seen here, its purpose specifically as a touch-piece rather than the gold Angel currency which had been used previously.
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Browse the selection of lots in the 'War and Peace' category featured in our 18 August 'Out of the Ordinary' auction.
Sold for £2,800
Condition Report
Nice clear details throughout, some wear due to touching, hole has been made for hanging on ribbon, see photographs. A rare survivor of significant history.
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Auction: Out of the Ordinary, 18th Aug, 2026
Viewing
VIEWING
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 14 August, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 16 August, 10am - 1pm
Monday 17 August, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
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