Jetons

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Jetons

Obverse of Nuremberg Jeton by Hanns Krauwinckel

Reverse of Nuremberg Jeton by Hanns Krauwinckel

Jetons
Jetons are counters or tokens. similar to coins. often issued and used as gaming or gambling tokens. Some bore advertising from their issuer. The word comes from French 'jeter' meaning to throw.
Long before television, people used to entertain themselves playing cards or other games, sometimes for money. Jetons were the equivalent of our modern day wooden or plastic "pieces" in Monopoly and other board games. They were mass produced, and still turn up regularly in quantities.
Jetons are similar to tokens, in that they were privately produced, but whereas tokens were issued as a substitute for small change, and often had a specific monetary value, jetons were not primarily issued as a form of money, therefore did not have any denomination or value marked on them. Some may have carried adverts for their issuers or other traders.
Many jetons were inscribed with mottos which were probably intended to be inspirational, although some, particularly earlier ones were nonsense, possibly blundered or deliberately altered copies or variations of legends on the original coins which formed their inspiration.

Nuremberg
For some reason the German city of Nuremberg was home to numerous families who were engaged in the business of manufacturing jetons. From the mid 16th century, the Nuremberg manufacturers appeared to have almost a European monopoly on the trade, which continued for about three centuries.

Hanns Krauwinckel
The Krauwinckel family were well known makers, and there were at least two members called Hans. The jeton in our photographs shows the maker's name of Hanns, with a double "n", so this may be a third Hans, or it may simply be a variant spelling, as spelling had not become standardised at the time (has it yet?).

Description
Most of the Nuremberg jetons copied the style of medieval silver pennies or other real coins.

Obverse
An orb surmounted by a cross, within six tressures, alternately pointed and curved, with the legend:
GOTES REICH BLIBT EWICR
This is in Early New High German (ENHG), which differs from modern German, but means " God's Kingdom remains eternal." Reverse
Three fleurs-de-lys (lilies) alternating with crowns, around a central flower, with the legend
HANNS KRAUWINCKEL IN NUR

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