"The word ‘luck’ was first used during the late Middle Ages. Before that, the idea of good fortune was represented by the word ‘speed’ and, rather than it being linked to chance, it was associated with divine intervention; hence the phrase ‘Godspeed’ (God spede), to wish someone luck.
Luck has a long association with coins too: the lucky penny, given as a gift to a new-born baby; or the lucky silver sixpence, stirred into a Christmas pudding to bring luck to whoever finds it in their bowl on Christmas Day (hopefully without the bad luck of a broken tooth!).
This is true around the world too: the US Silver Dollar is referred to as the ‘lucky’ silver dollar, while the Japanese five-yen coin is placed inside a new wallet when given as a gift to wish the receiver good luck. Indeed, the Japanese words for ‘five yen’ are go en, a phrase often used between friends to wish each other luck.
Now, as luck would have it, one of history’s luckiest coins, the Angel, is available once more.
So, are you feeling lucky?