Hammered Gold Angel

Description

This hammered gold Angel of King Edward IV is a fine and desirable example of late medieval English gold coinage, attributed to the Heraldic Cinquefoil variety. Angels were introduced during Edward IV’s reign and quickly became one of England’s most important and recognisable gold denominations, valued for both their gold content and symbolic imagery.

The obverse depicts the Archangel Michael standing upon a ship, holding a cross and shield, a powerful religious image symbolising divine protection and the triumph of good over evil. On this issue, the ship is adorned with the heraldic cinquefoil, a distinctive five-petalled floral emblem used as a identifying symbol within the Angel series and an important feature for accurate attribution.

The reverse features a long cross with shield, consistent with Angels struck during the Yorkist period. As with all hammered coinage, this piece was struck by hand, resulting in natural variation in centring, flan shape, and strike quality.
This coin is confidently attributed to Edward IV and is catalogued as Spink 2091, a recognised reference within English medieval numismatics. Hammered gold Angels of this type are highly prized for their historical importance, scarcity, and strong collector demand.