Lizz Dawson and Jo Hayes have been working in the RCP museum all summer as part of a museum studies MA course. They’ve been working on new arrangement and interpretation for one of the cases in our Treasures Room, and today's post explores one of the objects they have chosen to include. We are currently redesigning the silver case in the Treasures Room and have been exploring the RCP collection to find interesting pieces to incorporate into our new display. We’ve found two small objects that the RCP hasn’t previously displayed: a pair of gold ‘touch-pieces’ used in a healing ceremony during the reign of Charles II (1630–85). These two small gold coins will be a central feature of the new display and we want to share their remarkable story.
For many centuries it was believed that the monarch had god-given authority and thus an ability to channel God’s powers to cure the disease scrofula, known as ‘the king’s evil’. Scrofula was the name given to a range of conditions affecting the skin, especially that caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis – a form of tuberculosis that caused swelling of the lymph glands and other symptoms.
The English king Edward the Confessor (1003–66) was reputedly the first to ‘cure’ people of scrofula through the power of his touch. All subsequent English monarchs were believed to possess the same healing powers. The popularity of this belief led to numerous public ceremonies where ill people would receive the monarch’s touch. Charles I (1600–49) was said to have touched nearly 100,000 of his subjects in this way.
From the 15th century onwards the king or queen would present a small gold coin or ‘touch-piece’ as well as giving the royal touch. These coins, known as angels, bore an image of the archangel Michael and allowed the sick to continue their ‘treatment’ at home by proxy. Charles I’s touch-pieces bore the Latin inscription ‘amor populi praesidium regis’, an unfortunate text given his bloody end; it translates as 'the love of the people is the King's protection'. The restored Charles II used the safer motto ‘soli deo gloria’ – ‘glory to God alone’. George I (1660–1727) finally ended the practice of the royal touch in the 18th century because he regarded it as superstitious.
The new Treasures Room display opens on 15 September. Come and learn more about the remarkable remedies and curious cures behind some of RCP’s most extraordinary objects.
Lizz Dawson and Jo Hayes, University of Leicester Museum Studies volunteers
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