1814-1824 Bayonne Chamber of Commerce Silver Jeton
It wasn’t long after sending me some choice Junk silver when my Hong Kong connection once again came up with something I would like and offered me a sweet selection of coins from a consignee client of his. From the photographs he sent I selected three of five coins. They were not coins but Jetons, similar to tokens with no denomination and no date.
No problem.
“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven.
The Silverware
This was admittedly an impulse buy and always on the lookout for 'fringe' silver that is different than the usual product. I was already somewhat familiar with these medallions/tokens that where not meant to be used as currency but considering the regular money shortages often exacted by the cost of wars it was certain some have seen innumerable transactions in place of money.
From the 13th to the 19th century official Jetons were primarily used as counters in tabulating the flow of goods and products to and from a given district with other economic regions all over Europe. This particular silver Jeton was used for official book keeping functions by agents of Bayonne's Chamber of Commerce.
Beyonne itself is a natural port situated on the intersection of the Adour and Nive rivers at the very southwest corner of France. Each region or city had an elected Chamber of Commerce established as a mediator between the state and the business interests of Bayonne’s jurisdiction.
The following is a close up of the Reverse and you will see why I love this silver piece. The ship is a three masted Barque with eleven guns on her starboard side with at least a chaser guns in the bow and stern for a 24 gun complement. The ship is generic and represented a typical trade vessel.
How these Jetons are used is that they are systematically arranged on a board similar to that of an abacus. Agents acting on behalf of Bayonne’s Chamber of Commerce tabulate incoming goods as they are off loaded from ship to warehouse. So as an examples; bales of cotton, barrels of rum, sacks of sugar, cords of exotic wood from the West Indies. All tabulated in quantity, goods labelled, stored, and an itemized Invoice issued to the owner of the goods for import taxes levied to be settled at the customs office.
The obverse reminds the agent or agents that who the taxes are sent to in our little walk through example, King Louis XVIII. Again we can see that this Jeton has been remarkably preserved with just a tiny bit of wear on his temple lock making this grade a strong AU+ 58 based on my lack of grading experience.
Fresh from Russian exile King Louis XVIII assumed the role as King of France from 1814 to 1824 following the defeat of Emperor Napoleon at Waterloo, which pretty much dates this old silver Jeton.
In Closing
This 210 year old Louis XVIII Jeton is a remarkable piece of economic history. The mystery of how many of these are in collections and graded populations? I’ve accounted for half a dozen specimens that were in past and present auctions that were not even close to the quality of this specimen. Numista’s rarity index suggest similar Jetons in the high 90s of 100, evidence of a few members having these yet there is no entry of this particular Jeton on their database.
Could this be a rare Numismatic prize worthy of appearing on the cover of a Sotheby’s Auction Catalog? Or a very well made modern fake? Maybe. Maybe not, but I snapped this up quick as if was, because I buy what I like, if I can afford it.
Be Forewarned
Numismatics are a whole different world of coin investing apart from Investment grade bullion. Do your own research as this field requires a considerable grasp of grading, knowledge and market conditions. Just make sure you leave clearly written instructions to your descendants in the proper liquidation of such numismatic assets.
I will post the remaining two Jetons later as more information is forth coming.
Always adding Silver and Crypto to my Stack for that rainy day or dark and stormy night!
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and to be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!
References
Photos are my own shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W or otherwise indicated.
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
☠️🎃 Page Dividers by thekittygirl. ❄️🌞
Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe.
1929 Bank of Indochina 20 Franc.
The 2024 Hive 0.999 Silver Round.
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Thanks for helping us to learn the difference between coins and Jetons
I love all of them
They look good
Thank you for coming aboard @rafzat
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That is a fine piece. You always do such amazing work putting together your post presentation @kerrislravenhill. I can only wish to be in your league. Also wish I had a Hong King connection too.
Right? A Hong Kong connection would be an excellent thing to have!
A little connetion everywhere is good thing.
The Numismatic shows and market there is something to behold, also a market fraught with fakes if you don't know your stuff. And BYOV, Bring Your Own Verifyer(s). Ben, of HK Colonial Coins has seen everything and doesn't take chances because many of his clients know their stuff so his reputation is on the line for every product he sells.
1765 Spanish Colonial Carlos III 8 Reales (Pillar Dollar) with Chinese chops.
Wow, I can't imagine holding something that old and storied in my hand! Of course, I'd want to know all the stories it could tell, and would undoubtedly be disappointed on that front.
Each chop mark on this old silver coin represents an exchange of goods or services transacted by private parties in China and God only knows where else before China.
There are publications regarding what marks representing some known business entities; the small mark were usually independent third party testers, the large chops are often of large business interests, and I can only guess the large incuse chops MAY represent government offices of the Qing empire"
Wow! Just...wow. There are layers upon layers to coin collecting that I never dreamed of!
Prices for these historical coins are not for the faint of heart, a coin I've only dreamed of owning until Christmas 2023.
The original post; The Legendary Pieces of Eight Pillar Dollar.
It takes work to get there @coinjoe, trial and error and learning from other writers what elements that make a great post.
A good opening photo is key to attracting a potential reader therefore a good shot of your subject along with a relevant context make it interesting. An old French banknote or map would make an ideal background. I borrowed that from @punkysdad.
The Raven Cameo is a personal identifier like a watermark, the Hive round copyrights the photo as Hive.blog.io as the source when I share the post across other platforms. And why I put a considerable effort into the photo composition. I use up to three Luxo lamps with cool and warm settings. Lots of trial and error. I could use a better quality camera than my phone.
Writing has a few things to keep in mind, but in a nut shell this post took me over a week to put together and after overcoming my writing barriers.
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Ms. Ravenhill @kerrislravenhill
The Night Nurse needs to monitor the Patients Prescriptions............
BE CAREFUL!! There’s stuff going around called Silver. Kids are talkin about “squeezing silver” or whatever it’s called. They talk about all time HIGHS and buying OUNCES at a time. Stuffs expensive and addictive!
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Ms. Ravenhill
Nothing gets by You! ........
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Thanks. I think my posts have improved over time since I first started. Most of that I pick up from others like yourself. I definitely need to up my image nad photography game for sure. Lots of my problem is my lack of patience. Thank you much for the encouragement annd tips.
Good to see your stack again! it looks an old design, and the condition is awesome, I think it is an awesome coin or jeton whatever lol
Like a 210 year old design and a beautiful well detailed rendering of a sailing ship.
Thanks for dropping in @gwajnberg
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"A braw Jeton it is Commander! We use 'em aften oan th' mighty Frigate Silverton, particularly when takin' accoont o' uir silvers un-boordin!" 😉
As the official gaming chips of the Annual Silverton Poker tournament, for the morale of the crew sair.
"Nae a bloody financial advisor!" -Haw! Haw! Haw! 😉
What a fat ass!
The Russians do feed their Royal guests well, Louis XVIII wasn't starving like most Russians.
Those European Bluebloods are all related anyway.
I always learn something when I click through to one of your posts! I will probably never get (back) into numismatic collecting (and even when I did it as a kid, it was nowhere near this level), but it's fascinating to see all the forms money has taken over the years, and all the ways they were used.
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The inspiration comes from a local coin club that my Mentor introduced me into. The North Shore Numismatic Society. When you talk to most members about the coins they collect you'd think you were talking to a historian more than a coin collector. The Meetings have a program, discussions, refreshments, an auction and some door prizes. I've always walked away from meetings learning something new, and often an auction win or two, even an occasional prize.
A well run club.
If you had joined an active coin club, things may have turned differently for you if you had a support base of other collectors.
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Even as an adult, I didn't realize such groups existed until I started paying attention to you SGS folk on Hive. As a kid...well, I didn't have much money to spend, so most of what I collected was very inexpensive, and I collected mostly for appearance, knowing nothing about value. It sure would've been neat to be able to connect with such a group back then, though. Or even now. My love of history would make me feel right at home, even if I couldn't afford to win auctions or anything.
Oddly enough, I recall my local club having a peculiar member as the only person that has a fine knowledge of local numismatics yet, he doesn't own even ONE numismatic coin.
He'd win a Club draw only to turn around and donate it back into the club operating fund auction.
So it goes to prove, that you don't have to be an actual coin collector to be a standing member of the club.
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That’s a beauty there Kerris. Very nice
Meaning... that you will scour the internet until you have an NGC or PCGS graded MS 68 or better version of this Jeton in your hot hands by Christmas 2028. Well then, I wish you luck @silverd510 I know you won't settle for second best.
Now that's !PIMP 👍
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Very interesting @kerrislravenhill, I haven’t heard of “Jetons” before…….
One more excellent way to diversify your precious metal stack👍😊
Jeton, French spelling, can be thought of as a Token as in a cash substitute, like Poker or gaming chips that evolved out of private gaming tokens. Jetton is the English spelling. There are many private business Jetons that circulated in the European economy in the form of private business copper or brass strikes. Whereas official State Jetons are often in silver.
Thanks for the comment @silvertop
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So very interesting @kerrislravenhill I learned something new!😊
Once Again Young Lady @kerrislravenhill
Your Ship has Come In...........
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When I saw the ship, it sold itself. A beauty! It would have made for a fine Light Frigate if outfitted properly.
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Very nice sis! I really like and understand why you like it. Thank you for sharing!🤗💟
Thanks again for the support @elizabethbit
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Always @kerrislravenhill ! !LUV
And I though it's just one of those generic rounds, very old generic rounds.
A fine write up.
In a way, yes.
And in a way, no.
Thanks for helping me out with this lovely Jeton @punkysdad
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That is a beautiful specimen of the 210 year-old coin. Thanks for the background, and very nice writing, sis. First time I heard of Jetons.
xoxo sis.
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These could be considered the first silver rounds but Jeton (French) or Jetton (English) make it sound more ...historic?
Always, with love 🤗🌺❤️
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Can’t argue with a nice impulse buy! Very nice indeed 🪙 🪙 🪙
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It was love at first sight ⛵️
And the price was very good considering the high grade compared to what had been available in auctions
Glad to have you aboard today @geneeverett
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Aye, thanks for coming aboard governor.
That is such a nice coin, that's a nice buy! You always find those great nautically related coins. I wouldn't mind one of those!
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If you ever come by an old Krause world catalog of coins, they are like a telephone book thick, you will find a lot of coins with a ship theme. The most commemorated by the most countries is Columbus' Santa Maria. Jetons have their own collecting niche, and I think I got this gem silver at a steal if my hunch is right about it's rarity and condition.
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Greetings @kerrislravenhill ,
What a fine presentation of this Jeton and it's history....thank you!
Kind Regards,
Bleujay
A beautiful silver piece worthy of joining my collection of sailing ship coins.
And, thank you for coming aboard @bleujay
!BBH