FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Medieval, Islamic and Crusader Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Ghengis_Jon on July 09, 2004, 08:27:41 am
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I've pulled a couple of tokens (?) that have been identified by others as 'jettons'. What are these 'coins' and what were they used for?
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Tokens and jetons were issued in most European nations between the 17th and 19th centuries, some earlier. In England they were intended as a sort of token coinage (hence the term token. ::)) due to chronic coin shortages. I cant say whether jetons struck in other European nations had a monetary value as well, though there are 5 sol token-medals minted during the French Revolution. They can also be called medalets, which is stupid because they arent small medals being of different fabric.
LordBest. 8)
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So they're sort of a stop-gap coinage. Or private coinage? I thought that sort of thing got you hanged. Interesting. Anyway, they're too 'new' for me. :)
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The earliest jetons were used as counters. Merchants used boards for accounting and the jetons were placed on the board to keep track of finances. Later, they were used for political statement, advertising, and gaming chips. There was another discussion of these under Mayadiggers thread about his uncleaned coins.
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In England they were coinage, counters, advertising, propaganda, the works all rolled in to one practically. :)
LordBest. 8)
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There is a great article on jetons at the Chicago Coin Club website at: http://www.chicagocoinclub.org/projects/PiN/juh.html
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A while ago I bought 100 uncleaned coins from a region different than I am used to. I put them aside, and promptly lost them. I just rediscovered them, and have a few that I am clueless about. This is one of them. I know you don't get gold in uncleaneds, but this sure as heck looks like gold. I just don't know what it is!
Help please?
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That my friend is a Jeton. I can't spell worth a darn, but if you do a keyword search for Jeton here, you will get all the details and possibly even another picture of a very similar Jeton.
I've got six of these rascals, probably from the same batch. I've been trying to find the value on them and my best guess so far is around $30.00 each.
At one time Curtis had provided translations of the German in the legends, but I can't find the thread now. If someone can find the thread with the legend please post a link here. I fear that thread may have been in the sales thread and discarded during a routine cleanup of old threads.
Bob
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WOW Absolutley fascinating. Thanks for starting a thread on this. Just when I am getting my Uncleaned Roman Coin obsession under control, I see a whole new area to work on!
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Mike, in some regards, the study of jetons is one of the last frontiers of numismatics. For instance, we recognize that the above specimen was produced by Hans Schultes. There was 3 generations of these gentlemen and I still cannot distinguish between them! It is a diverse and interesting coinage and worthy of some attention.
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At one time Curtis had provided translations of the German in the legends, but I can't find the thread now. If someone can find the thread with the legend please post a link here.
Bob
As an American living in Germany, I could read the legend. Its old Germany and reads, "Gluck kommt von Gott allein", "Happiness comes from God alone." And the the name of the City Nurenberg is on the coin. Hope I could help.
Mortsmolb