Why does this 500-year-old Angel Coin have a hole in it?

Key Concepts

• The King’s Evil (Scrofula): A form of tuberculosis (lymphadenitis) historically believed to be curable by the touch of a divinely appointed monarch.
• The Angel Coin: A gold coin featuring the imagery of St. Michael slaying the devil/beast, used as a talisman in healing rituals.
• Divine Right of Kings: The political and religious doctrine that a monarch’s authority is derived directly from God, granting them supernatural healing powers.
• Amulet of Protection: The repurposed, pierced coin worn by the sufferer as a physical manifestation of the monarch’s blessing.

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The Ritual of "Touching for the King’s Evil"

The transcript details a historical medical and religious practice prevalent during the Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart eras in England. This ceremony was rooted in the belief that the monarch possessed divine healing powers capable of curing "the King’s Evil," medically known as scrofula—a form of tuberculosis.

The Role of the Angel Coin

The "Angel" coin was specifically selected for this ritual due to its iconography. The coin depicts St. Michael slaying a beast, which served as a powerful metaphor for "Good triumphing over evil." This imagery was intended to symbolize the patient being saved from their affliction through the monarch’s intervention.

The Step-by-Step Healing Process

The ceremony followed a structured, official protocol:

1. The Procession: Patients suffering from scrofula were paraded into the royal court.
2. The Royal Touch: The monarch, positioned on a dais, would receive the Angel coin. The monarch would touch the coin, symbolically imbuing it with their divine healing authority.
3. Modification: The coin was then pierced, and a silken thread was passed through the hole.
4. The Amulet: The coin was placed around the neck of the sufferer. It was subsequently worn as an amulet of protection, serving as a permanent physical link to the monarch’s curative power.

Historical Context and Perspectives

The practice highlights the intersection of theology and governance during this period. The core argument supporting this ritual was the Divine Right of Kings; because the monarch was viewed as God’s representative on Earth, their physical contact was believed to possess the efficacy to heal disease. The existence of coins with holes in them serves as archaeological evidence of this widespread belief and the ritualistic nature of the healing process.

Conclusion

The ritual of "touching for the King’s Evil" represents a unique historical synthesis of religious dogma, royal propaganda, and folk medicine. By utilizing the Angel coin—a symbol of divine victory—the monarchy reinforced its status as a divinely appointed institution while providing a tangible, albeit symbolic, form of medical relief to the populace. The pierced coins that remain today act as physical artifacts of this era's belief in the supernatural authority of the crown.