My latest jeton acquisition, but currently with a friend in America due to sellers difficulty in shipping directly to me in the UK.

This was probably issued to official guests attending the opening of the Marche de la Madeleine in Brussels in 1848. It is a pretty difficult jeton to find and I like it because of the perspective of the interior. Reminiscent of the `Crystal Palace' medal.

Very nice. I especially like the reverse.

What specifically does the reverse depict? I assuming it's a concert hall in Paris?

Actually Jorg, I was suffering a bout of rectal crinitis when I typed the post (now edited accordingly ). It's not in Paris, it's in Brussels / Bruxelles.

It was a massive indoor market aka La Salle de la Madeleine, built by the Belgian architect, Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer, in 1847. Now a casino complex, with only the front and rear facades of the original building still remaining.

(edited to include the following)

There's a bit about the history of the place here:-

http://www.grandcasinobrussels.be/eng/abou...rchitecture.php

Impressive. I love the geometrics of the reverse.

Looks like you can walk right into it.

The Crystal Palace was built a mere three years later and although `different' I can't help thinking that the building (and the medal) were perhaps influenced by the Marche de la Madeleine.

I love the perspective on the reverse, too

Interesting contrast between the two pieces. The similarity in the archtitectural structure is immediately apparent. I'm struck, though, by the technique of the first piece in taking the viewer into the building by allowing the structure to extend off the edges of the piece and opposed to the send where seem to be looking into the building as if it were a cut-away. Both valid approaches, but I like the former best.

I wouldn't disagree with your thoughts. Both convey `dimension' to the senses and almost involuntarily you are sucked inside the buildings looking at the `detail' that is ready and waiting there to be seen. I wouldn't want to choose between them.


Ian

Architecture and it's representation on coinage is one more area that lurks waiting to trap the casual collector.

It has certainly got me snared. I've started putting some of my `buildings' coins and jetons on omnicoin.

http://www.omnicoin.com/user_view.aspx?id=Ian

Nifty! It gets a little more expensive when you have to go and visit all those places too