TOUCH-PIECES.
320. Charles II., 1661. Obv. Ship in full sail l. CAR. II. D. G. M. B. FR. ET HI. REX. Rev. St. Michael and the dragon. SOLI DEO GLORIA. Gold. Size .85. Struck.
When the king performed the ceremony of "touching" those, who were afflicted with scrofulous complaints, he put about the neck of each person a white ribbon with one of these pieces on it.
321. James II., 1685. Obv. Similar. IACO. II. D. G. M. B. &c. Rev. Similar. Gold. Size .75. Struck.
322. Another. Similar: ship r., and leg. varied on obverse. Silver. Size .75. Struck.
James II. was the first to strike these touch-pieces in silver.
323. James (III.), Elder Pretender, circ. 1710. Obv. Similar; type varied. IAC. III. D. G. M. B. F. ET H. R. Rev. Similar. Gold. Size .85. Struck.
This piece is of better work than those preceding. It was probably executed at Rome, when the Stuart family was residing in that city.
324. Henry (IX.), Duke of York, Cardinal, 1788. Obv. Similar. H. IX. D. G. M. B. F. ET H. R. C. EP. TVSC. Rev. Similar. Size .8. Struck.
The power of healing for the king's evil appears to have been claimed by all the Stuarts. It was abandoned by George I., who, on being applied to by a staunch adherent of the House of Hanover to touch his son, declined to do so, and referred the applicant to the Elder Pretender.