Angel (coin)

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Henry VIII: AV Angel. 1513-1526. First coinage. Tower mint

An Angel is a gold coin, first used in France (where it was also known as an Angelot and an Ange) in 1340, and introduced into England by Edward IV in 1465 as a new issue of the "noble" and so at first called the "angel-noble". It varied in value between that period and the time of Charles I, when it was last coined (1642)^[1] from 6s. 8d. to 11s. The name was derived from the representation it bore of St. Michael and the dragon.

[edit] Role in English coinage

The initial value of the coin was six shillings and eight pence (6s/8d) or 1/3 of a pound (80 pence). The coin was introduced after the Ryal (120 pence) proved unpopular as the standard was 80 pence from the previous Noble coin used.

During the reign of Edward IV, the coin had a weight of 80 grains (5.2 grams) and a diameter of 27-31 mm. Later on in 1472 the Half Angel was introduced with a similar design. It weighed 40 grains (2.6 grams) and had a diameter of 20-21 mm. In the same year the Bristol mint began producing them as well.

Obverse: Depicts the archangel St. Michael spearing the dragon of evil. Legend: EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC meaning Edward by the grace of God King of England and France.

Reverse: Depicts a ship with arms and rays of sun at the masthead. Legend: PER CRUCEM TUAM SALVA NOS CHRISTE REDEMPTOR meaning by Thy cross, save us, O Christ, our Redeemer.

The value fluctuated over time:

In 1526 during the reign of Henry VIII, it increased to seven shillings and six pence (7s/8d) or 90 pence.
In 1544, it increased again to eight shillings (8s) or 96 pence.
In 1550 during the reign of Edward VI it increased to ten shillings (10s) or 120 pence.
In 1612 during the reign of James I it increased to eleven shillings (11s) or 132 pence.
In 1619 it decreased to ten shillings (10s) and at that point in time it weighed 70 grains (4.5 grams).

Eventually in 1663 during the regin of Charles II, coinage was replaced with entirely new designs and struck by machine (milled). The standard gold coin became the Guinea.

[edit] Social impact

The Angel was such an iconic coin that many English pubs were named after it. The Angel Islington is one of these; and the Angel tube station station was named after the pub.
The angel was the coin given to those who came to be touched for the disease known as king's evil; after it was no longer coined, medals, called touch-pieces, with the same device, were given instead.