2026 Great Britain 1 kg Gold - The Angel Proof Coin

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. The coin is available in a range  
of editions, including a 5kg, 2kg, 1kg, 5oz, 2oz, 1oz and 1/4oz gold 
Proof, 1kg, 10oz, 5oz, 2oz and 1oz silver Proof and a £5 Brilliant  
Uncirculated edition.

KEY FEATURE

•  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