The Isle of Man has its own circulating coinage, which is used in parallel with the British Pound Sterling; it also issues an extensive range of commemorative coins for collectors, as well as bullion coins in a variety of formats and designs for investors in precious metals.
One of the sizes used is the internationally popular half gram (0.5g) of gold mini-coin format, and one of the designs in this format is the Angel, depicting Saint Michael slaying the dragon. The original Angel was a gold coin introduced in England by King Edward IV in 1465 as a new issue of the Noble. Based on a French coin, the Angelot or Ange, its name was derived from the representation of the Archangel St. Michael. The image of the Archangel Michael slaying the dragon was thought to bring good luck and health and was traditionally given to sufferers of the disease the "King’s evil" or scrofula, in a medieval ceremony intending to cure them with the "royal touch".
It is usually said that modern Angels are legal tender but without a fixed face value, like the Krugerrand or Mexico’s Libertad which are legal tender to the value of their precious metal content. However, according to the various Currency Determinations by The Treasury of the Isle of Man authorising each issue, under section 6 of the Currency Act 1992, the "Angel" denomination is equal to 5 pounds in face value, with fractions or multiples divided or multiplied as required by the fraction or multiplier shown on the reverse of the coin - hence the half gram ("denominated" as 1/64 Angel) has the unwieldy nominal face value of 5/64 pounds, or 7.8125 pence - rounded to the nearest value, which is 8p.
In 2012, the Angel carried a double portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee - 60 years on the throne. |
| Obverse | |
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The obverse features two right-facing portraits of Queen Elizabeth II which are "conjoined" - shown together, one slightly behind the other. In the foreground, an old portrait depicting her as she appeared in 2012; on it, the Queen wears the Royal Diamond Diadem crown which she wore for her Coronation, pearl earrings, and a pearl necklace. In the background, her First Definitive Effigy by Mary Gillick depicting her when she was 26 years old; this portrait was used on Commonwealth coinage from 1953.
Around above, the monarch's legend and the date: * ELIZABETH II * ISLE OF MAN * 2012.
The dividers in the inscription are triskele symbols. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows Saint Michael, facing right, slaying the dragon. He has a halo and wears only a loincloth. In his left hand he holds a shield bearing a cross, at the centre of which is a small triskele symbol; in his right hand he has a long spear, the tip of which has pierced the throat of a fire-breathing dragon fallen at the saint's feet.
In the exergue, the precious metal content: Au. 999.9 1/64 OUNCE.
Around below, the name of the denomination, ANGEL.
The PM mint mark of the Pobjoy Mint is below the dragon.
The rim is framed by an elaborate Celtic border design ("Viking Knit"), interrupted at the top by a small Triskele symbol, which is the Coat of Arms of the Isle of Man. |
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