Touchpiece (obverse) of James VIII

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A touchpiece was a coin given to a sufferer of 'scrofula', a form of tuberculosis, by a monarch, who were believed to have a divine power of healing. This is the obverse of a gold touchstone of James VIII, 'The Old Pretender', from 1708.

The obverse is decorated with a three-masted ship at sea and has an abbreviated Latin inscription which translates as 'James III, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland'.

James VIII was still in exile when the touchpiece was made.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-082-358-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.1958.2051
• Date: 1708
  
• Material: Gold
  Medal, commemorative / touch piece
  
• Dimensions: 20 mm
  
• What: Medal, commemorative / touch piece
  
• Subject: Medals (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: James VIII and III, The Old Pretender
  
• Where:
• Event:
• Description: Gold touch-piece of James III and VIII, 1708
  
• References:
  • Hawkins, (1885) II, 316, 140 
• Translations:
• Related Records: