Can someone help identify this?

FilthyBroke · August 20, 2011 9:22PM

I had a request yesterday to help identify this token, but it's out of my usual area of focus so I couldn't pin it down to any specific information.

I really need to know - A location, a general date and value. Any info beyond that is great, too, of course.

At first glance, I thought maybe Dutch, and when I looked it up in Mitchiner's catalog, it seemed more similar to a couple of Spanish Netherland issues. I just can't pin it down much further.

JoesMaName · August 20, 2011 11:12PM

I wouldn't be surprised to find it was a trade token or game counter of some sort - I've never seen legends that just repeat 2 letters like yours does - IVIVIVIV and SISISIS

1960NYGiants · August 21, 2011 12:01AM

Nuremberg Jetons

This site mentions that some have meaningless legends.

FilthyBroke · August 21, 2011 1:23AM

<< <i>Nuremberg Jetons

This site mentions that some have meaningless legends. >>

Thanks for the link, I haven't seen that site before. And yeah, the repeating legend seemed odd to me, too. As close as I can tell, it is a token or counter, but beyond that I'm struggling for any details. Looks like 14th or 15th century as far as date, but again, I'm just going by similar pieces I've seen.

lordmarcovan · August 21, 2011 5:04AM

16th century (i.e., 1500s) would be my guess. And yes, I concur that it could possibly be a jeton.

Beyond that, I can't say much, except that it's probably quite identifiable. You've got readable detail, there. Can you transcribe the legends? I can't make 'em all out in the picture, but I'll bet you could with the piece in hand. Of course that late-medieval lettering style is a challenge, at least for me. (What do they call it? Lombardic?)

Can someone help identify this?

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