Ian Posted October 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 I'm a really happy bunny concerning this one. Gailhouste doesn't even have a picture of it in his 1993 book `Numismatique de L'Assurance'.. He does say (very roughly translated from french....) " I haven't found the jeton from this society. Gauvin doesn't mention either the date of its founding or its disappearance". description: Obverse: a steam boat heading left. `Stern Aumoitte / Paris' in exergue Reverse:`Compagnie Maritime De La Mediterranee' Oval shield of Marseille on a cartouche capped by a five towered crown. below (the crown) and anchor,caduceus, trident, and other maritime emblems. `Marseille' below. No dates known for the distribution of this jeton, however the edge marking (hand with pointing finger) indicates it was struck at La Medaille, Paris between 1845-60. First example i've ever come across either in image or in the flesh. Not a particularly `cheap' purchase for this rather tight fisted Scot, but I didn't argue with the price and was more than happy to buy it before the rest of the world became aware it was on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 Let me be the first to congratulate you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elverno Posted October 25, 2013 Report Share Posted October 25, 2013 Great thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2013 another relatively hard to find jeton de presence minted for `L'Avenir', a french maritime assurer, and issued the same year as the inauguration of the company (1838). it does not appear that the company survived all that long. No records exist according to Gailhouste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmarotta Posted November 12, 2013 Report Share Posted November 12, 2013 Fascinating! Thanks. Always a pleasure reading your posts, Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank Posted November 12, 2013 Report Share Posted November 12, 2013 I just love this thread, Ian. Especially that last jeton --AVENIR ASSURANCES. No avenir [future] for this company, if no records exist... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted November 12, 2013 Report Share Posted November 12, 2013 I just love this thread, Ian. Especially that last jeton --AVENIR ASSURANCES. No avenir [future] for this company, if no records exist... Apparently then the company sank without trace, except for Ian's jeton, despite NEC MARIS IRA MANET( from Ovid's Metamorphoses) being Latin for The anger of the sea subsides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Apparently then the company sank without trace, except for Ian's jeton, despite NEC MARIS IRA MANET( from Ovid's Metamorphoses) being Latin for The anger of the sea subsides. Apart from being left with a sinking feeling, it must have looked a bit fishy to the investors (cod forgive me for saying that!). Upon my sole, they must have lost the plaice when the company floundered. There is (in present time) a Paris based insurance company of the same name but it has no commonalty (other than by name) to the one in question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 Apart from being left with a sinking feeling, it must have looked a bit fishy to the investors (cod forgive me for saying that!). Upon my sole, they must have lost the plaice when the company floundered. No trout about it, your r-eel whale of a tail has left me f-eeling wobbegong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted November 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 This one, minted for the `Compagnie D'Assurances Generales Contre L'incendie' circa 1910, was engraved by Oscar Roty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccg Posted November 21, 2013 Report Share Posted November 21, 2013 The style really looks like that of the early 20th century Greek silver coins :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted November 23, 2013 Report Share Posted November 23, 2013 Stellar! How high is the relief? This one, minted for the `Compagnie D'Assurances Generales Contre L'incendie' circa 1910, was engraved by Oscar Roty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 sorry. i never did respond to you M'sieu LeDeadpoint. The relief is indeed more in keeping with a Swiss shooting medal than the norm for french medals. here's a jeton that was minted for `La Fortune' a French maritime assurer based in Le Havre in the mid 1800's. Again , i really can't understand why they would use Lady Luck in their marketing. Doesn't indicate investment `management'....and unsurprisingly, the company apparently sank due to a spate of bad luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagerap Posted February 14, 2014 Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 Try as I might to concentrate on one or two collecting paths, I regret to say that I am promiscuous. Always ready to be distracted by the next pretty face. These jetons have fascinated me for a long time and now I've finally found one in my price range. What amazrd me was the weight, slightly heavier than a contemporary 5 franc. I may be hooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 You are now officially on that slippery slope. there's no turning back now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted March 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 This silver jeton was struck in 1867 for the `Societe de Garantie Mutuelle Contre Le Piquage D'Onces', If my understanding is correct, the origins of this `Mutual' lies in the silk industry at Lyon where the society was set up to counter the pilfering of silk. `Piquage D'onces' roughly translates as `pickings in ounces. That is, theft in small amounts to escape detection However, the small amounts all added up to quantities sufficient to warrant action by the various merchants and manufacturers of silk goods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted April 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 A lucky purchase on ebay. Seller bundled three jetons together, two of which were fairly common. The third....this one...falls into the scarce as hen's teeth category. Either nobody bothered to look closer at the individual jetons or the world was fast asleep.. Either way i'm a happy bunnie. The jeton was issued in 1875/6 on the inauguration of the company (L'Assurance Financiere) and went bust in 1896....with little happening of note in between, except business was not good, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Great find Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted January 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 recent acquisitions silver jeton issued for `La Mer' a maritime insurer. silver jeton issued for the `Courtiers de Commerce de Marseille' a maritime assurer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art1.2 Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Very nice Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted January 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 another few `jetons de presence' The first was issued for the french assurer `L'Auxiliaire' which covered risk of accidents in the construction industry The second is one of a number of different types of jeton issued by `La France' covering fire risks The third was an unusual find. Its a rare example of a silver piedfort jeton struck for the Swiss assurance company `La Genevoise' in 1984. Very reminiscent of the quality and depth of strike you see in the swiss shooting medals of that decade. The jeton was engraved by George Hantz and struck in Geneva. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccg Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 That last piece really looked like an Roty to me - especially the font. (of course, throwing in a sowing figure doesn't hurt - lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 This one was struck circa 1880 for `L'Indre`, a company covering fire risks. The jetons for this company are quite common / easily found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 This medal was struck circa 1880 for L'Europe, a french assurer covering fire risks. This one was presented to Madamoiselle Fanny Dunat (a very unfortunate name from a Scottish perspective!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 This bronze plaquette was struck to commemorate the centenary of the Compagnie D'Assurances Generales in 1919 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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