Gold touchpiece, given at the ceremony of healing by touch, issued by Charles II, English, 1664-1685
A touchpiece is a medal or token believed to cure disease by having been touched by one who can heal, in this case King Charles II. Those with royal blood were thought to have the God-given power of healing.
The Latin "Soli Deo Gloria" which means "Glory to God alone" testifies to this God-given power.
This touchpiece features a hole by which the coin can be worn as a necklace or amulet.
Details
- Category:
- Ethnography and Folk Medicine
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A40462
- Materials:
- gold (metal)
- Measurements:
-
overall (lying flat): height = 1 mm x diameter = 24 mm, 0.004
- type:
- touchpiece
- credit:
- Loan, Wellcome Trust
