The angel is one of the most fascinating coins in numismatic history and the coin’s name derives from the design on the obverse of the coin that shows the Archangel Michael battling Satan, who is presented in the form of a dragon.

First issued in the 1460s during the reign of Edward IV as a smaller replacement for the noble, it went on to become a healing piece associated with ‘touching ceremonies’. During these ceremonies, it was believed that the reigning monarch could pass on some of their God-given power and therefore cure sufferers of scrofula, a bacterial infection of the lymph nodes also known as the ‘king’s evil’, through the coin. The angel would be touched and often pierced then hung around the person’s neck with white ribbon to continue to protect the person wearing it.

Production of the angel originally ended in the mid seventeenth century but now, The Royal Mint is delighted to reveal a fresh interpretation of the coin, which features a modern reimagining of the angel’s classic St Michael design by Sandra Deiana. 

KEY FEATURES

• A fresh interpretation of one of the most fascinating coins in numismatic history
• Features a modern reimagining of the St Michael design created by Sandra Deiana
• Pays tribute to a coin that is historically thought to offer protection and good fortune
• Beautifully presented in bespoke packaging that tells the intriguing story of the angel
• A must-have coin for collectors and history buffs

SPECIFICATIONS                  

• Metal: Cupro-nickel
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
• Weight: 28.28g
• Diameter: 38.61mm
• Denomination: £5
• Year: 2026