Can anyone help me identify this jeton?

ormandh · February 7, 2011 8:37AM

I was hoping someone could help me with the country and possible age. It is very thin and the size of a 1/2 crown. -Dan

FilthyBroke · February 7, 2011 9:01AM

Offhand, it looks like an old French jeton, maybe around the mid-1500's. I can't find it in Mitchiner's guide, but I'll look around again.

FilthyBroke · February 7, 2011 9:17AM

Here's a similar reverse, but the lettering looks a little different. The problem with actually locking this type down to anything specific is the lack of info available. Mitchiner's book starts at around 1550 and only lists less common designs and silver for the most.

My best guess would be early to mid-1500's on the date. If I can find anything else on it, I'll let you know.

lordmarcovan · February 7, 2011 10:11AM

I agree that it is French. I would've guessed 1400s.

FilthyBroke · February 7, 2011 10:18AM

<< <i>I agree that it is French. I would've guessed 1400s. >>

You may well be right on that. Anything pre-1550's to1600 starts to get tough to date without other examples for comparison. I've seen this one (or similar) before, but can't find a good reference right now.

lordmarcovan · February 7, 2011 10:36AM

My 1400s guess is mostly based on the style of the lettering, but it's really just a shot in the dark.

FilthyBroke · February 7, 2011 10:40AM

Yeah, I couldn't anything of that lettering, can you?

lordmarcovan · February 7, 2011 10:46AM

Not a whole lot. Lombardic lettering (if that is in fact the correct term for it) has never been my strong suit.

ormandh · February 7, 2011 11:08AM

Wow! I am impressed with you guys! I was figuring early, but not that early. I was having problems with the lettering. I can make out CIV, but that is about it. Thanks! -Dan

DCH · February 7, 2011 11:46AM

I believe the bottom legend is a badly blundered attempt at: VIVE LE BON ROI DE FRANCE
Top looks like GEOV.VE?N : DE? D?VVO:????? Not sure what it was meant to be.

FilthyBroke · February 7, 2011 9:46PM

"Long live the good king of France". That doesn't tell us much to help date it, but it's a start. I wonder if it was intentionally left generic?

"Geovveon" could be governor....I think. If we can get that weak part deciphered, we may have a clue as to a date/location of minting. My guess is that it too will be generic, but maybe includes a location if we're lucky.

lordmarcovan · February 10, 2011 10:01AM

<< <i>VIVE LE BON ROI DE FRANCE >>

Indeed it is! Seems obvious, now that you've pointed that out.

ormandh · February 10, 2011 10:21AM

Thanks guys! Here is something I found online.

Interesting research.

FilthyBroke · February 10, 2011 10:39AM

<< <i>Thanks guys! Here is something I found online.

Interesting research. >>

Thanks for the link. So this would be considered an Abbey piece? I haven't heard this term before, but it makes sense. The article suggests that over fifty of this type alone are still in existence, so I guess this makes it very difficult to nail down to a specific location, but this is definitely what you have here. I really wish there was a comprehensive guide available for all jetons, rather than having to piece this info together.

ormandh · February 10, 2011 11:17AM

I know what you mean. It is a shame that lots of the information that these numismatists had back then has fallen through the cracks.

FilthyBroke · February 10, 2011 11:31AM

There are a couple more books on the subject that I'd love to look through, but they're printed in French and I'm not up to the task of translating a language that I'm not totally familiar with. It would make a nice project to compile all available info and get it all in one spot (and one language).

ormandh · February 10, 2011 12:56PM

Try running it through this translator. Change the url in the search and change the setting for translation to french.

Translator

ormandh · February 10, 2011 12:58PM

Nevermind, it is a pdf page....

Can anyone help me identify this jeton?

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