TomGoodheart

This on the other hand, was personally touched by the king, having been handed to a participant at a royal Touching Ceremony. The Touch was thought, due to the belief that kings were god's representatives on earth (see Divine Right) to be able to cure a number of illnesses, similar to a saint's intercession. The major one was scrofula, an unpleasant but rarely fatal disease that not infrequently went into remission. The habit appears to have dated from Edward the Confessor and the Stuarts were the last to practice the habit. Initially the Royal Touch was the main purpose of the ceremony but soon a small payment was added to charitably support the sufferer. From the reign of Edward IV a gold angel was the accepted form this took. An appropriate piece, given the presence of an angel on one side of the coin and the ship of state on the other. Additionally the value of the coin 6/4d was the accepted payment for a doctor at the time. Angels were officially pierced and the monarch then threaded them onto a length of white silk ribbon, before hanging the coin around the neck of a sufferer. One of the most famous was Dr Samuel Johnson who received his from Queen Anne, the last monarch to Touch. Johnson's touchpiece is now displayed in the British Museum. This is another example I was very pleased to be able to find for my collection. S. 2684A Portcullis privy mark ( 11 Jul 1633 - 27 Jun 1634)

There was a trend at the time in Europe for the wealthy and powerful to present visitors, or those they wished to impress, with small portrait medallions. Charles took up the habit with the most prestigious being impressive pieces in gold but also cheaper silver or silver gilt versions. It seems unlikely that all of these were personally handed out by the king. Even at court I imagine others distributed the majority. And it's likely that, since they were cast and chased and therefore relatively easy to duplicate, others were made to order for supporters of the crown who wanted something to demonstrate their loyalty from existing badges, though likely with Royal 'consent' to the practice. Obviously over time it became riskier to admit you were an ardent Royalist, hence the size of the later badges is much smaller with the one shown on my fingertip an example of one from the later years of the reign that could be easily concealed in clothing or, should the need arise, shown at the turn of a coat collar perhaps.

The first two are jetons (small medallions, assumed to have been thrown into the crowds) in celebration of Charles and Henrietta Maria's wedding. They had two wedding ceremonies, due to religious differences. The first was in France (Henrietta Maria was the daughter of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici) and Duke Claude of Chevreuse stood as proxy for Charles. A second was held in Canterbury. The jetons were designed by Pierre Regnier. The one with the ribbon is also by Regnier and was assumed to be a variant of the marriage medallion. However I am certain that, though similar, the crown on the obverse represents their coronation rather than marriage. This is supported by the date on the first two being 1625 (the marriage was in May of that year) but the coronation was in February 1626 and this is the year given on the 'crown' version. This type is considerably rarer than the first two and I was very pleased to pick that one up! In case it helps, trays sizes are 45mm (larger) and 35mm (smaller). Medals were produced throughout Charles' reign (including posthumously). Badges (the oval ones) are generally thought to date from the middle of the reign. As with the shillings, Charles starts the reign wearing a ruff. This gives way to a lace collar, with increasing amounts of armour added to his bust as the years go by!

And some shillings ..an early Easter egg. 😄

Medals

Badges.