Definition for AN'GEL

AN'GEL, n.3

A gold coin formerly current in England, bearing the figure of an angel. Skinner says this device was impressed upon it in allusion to an observation of Pope Gregory the Great, who, seeing some beautiful English youths in the market at Rome, asked who they were; being told they were Angli, English, he replied, they ought rather to be called angeli, angels. This coin had different values under different princes; but is now an imaginary sum or money of account, implying ten shillings sterling. – Encyc.

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