Ian

They are definitely `up there' in my favourites too. the design is however drawn from an earlier Marie de Medici jeton which I think I have somewhere in my collection (memory is such a fickle thing! ) . You are absolutely correct about the palms.. They do indeed represent the King (Louis XIII), Queen (Anne of Austria) and the `Dauphin' (2 year old Louis, later to be Louis XIV, aka `sun king'). Although the birth of Anne's second son was in September 1640 (Philippe D'Anjou, better known as Philippe Duc D'Orleans), these jetons had nothing to do with that particular event, having been designed the year before and issued in the early part of 1640.

1641 double tournois from the French Principality of Orange sporting Friedrich Henry , father of William of Orange followed by a 1641 double tournois from Boisebelle et Heindrichmont sporting HMaximillian De Bethune, Duc de Sully. 1640 silver jeton issued for the household of Anne of Austria, Queen of France, followed by the same jeton in yellow copper

1642 jeton (Conseil du Roi) -- Les Coeurs Fidèles. The three hearts represent the alliance between France, Holland and ... England? Hi Frank, I've seen mention of this `triple' alliance explanation for the three hearts. However to me that does not make much sense and I can't find any solid reference for that theory. I could be wrong though (often am!) 1642 would more likely have seen an alliance between Portugal, France and England against Spain. England and Netherlands were too much at each others throats over foreign colonies that year. To my mind, it is much more likely that the three hearts on your jeton relate to the `Three Estates' (Administration, Law and Military). The design of `Les Coeurs Fideles' was also used by Louis XIV a few years later in relation to the `Fronde', that period of time relating to the civil wars. The design was calling upon the `fidelity' of the three estates towards the King. The one below circa 1648. Another possibility for the `three hearts' on the 1642 jeton was the deaths of both Marie de Medici (Louis XIII mother) and Richelieu in 1642. Perhaps a gesture on Louis XIII's part to reconcile (in her dealth) the exile of his mother due to her resistance to the power of Richelieu and the influence he had over her son? Speaking of Richelieu, here's a neat 1642 jeton commemorating his internment in the chapel of the Sorbonne.....

No probs with dates for now. Here's a few more in the hope that some of you guys will be able to add your own. 1646 - Yellow copper jeton de presence issued for Jean Scarron, the then Mayor of Paris 1645 - a silver 1/4 ecu Paris mint (point after date) and a 1645 1/12th ecu Paris mint (rose after date) 1644 - a silver jeton issued for gaston D'Orleans, the Uncle and regent for the young Louis XIV 1643 - Silver jeton de presence issued for Nancy Town Council. Nice `city view' type.

OK guys, I finally managed to get some of my collection unpacked and found this one which hopefully will be of some interest to you. A reasonable condition for a silver schilling from Lucerne in Switzerland.....dated 1647! Let the show go on!

There were quite a few series of jetons issued for various bodies based at Le Chatelet in Paris during the reigns of Louis XIV,XV, and XVI including the police, bailiffs, registrars, magistrates, and the crown prosecution service. The following three jetons were issued for the crown prosecution, the law being under the authority of the crown at that time. The reverse is common to all three, engraved by Lorthior and dated 1766. It depicts Aurora in her chariot pulling the sun behind her and bringing light into darkness. The obverses are 1. Louis XV by Charles Norbert Roetier. 2. Louis XVI by Duvivier and 3. Louis XVI by Droz.

It's been a few days since anyone has posted a coin to this thread, so here's my `two for the price of one' jeton, dated 1647 -1648 . Issued in 1648 for M'sieu Lescot who had the job of acting as Receiver General for the Paris administration ( that part responsible for chasing after debtors large and small / liquidating their assets or sending them to gaol (without passing go or collecting 200 livres!).

Here's a 1651 silver jeton issuedby Louis Gonzaga of Nevers and Henrietta of Cleves. They set up a fund for disadvantaged young females and each year a purse containing silver jetons (I am unsure as to the quantity) was awarded. It should be borne in mind that although jetons were not exactly `money', silver was (at least the basis of it). As such these jetons (roughly equivalent to 1/3 of an ecu) were readily translated into `goods or services'. This one is a small billon 1/2 batzen dated 1650 from Bavaria I'm out for the next few years unless I find some time to search through the coins i've still to scan.

Moving swiftly backwards........here's a 1652 `wildman' taler from Brunswick Luneburg.

Here's a 1653 silver jeton issued for Le Premier Corps des Marchands de Paris (Drapers Guild of Paris)

I bought this 1657 Burgundy Estates jeton a few years ago but never quite got round to scanning it myself. These are the sellers photos of the time. I'm currently unpacking my collection having recently moved house. Once I get to this one i'll get better images together. In the interim this one will do Moving quickly backwards, here's an interesting pair of jetons dated 1656. One is silver, the other copper, issued for `Le premier Corps des Marchands de Paris' or `the Drapers Guild of Paris', the leading merchant guild of that era. I need to scan these again once I get them unpacked as the images are really pretty duff........ even by my standards. Finally, here's an interesting brass hybrid jeton dated 1655. The obverse die was used for the Taverners (inn Keepers) Guild. The reverse die depicts the french cockerel chasing the flemish lion with the city of Arras in the distance

Hey...no sweat. I'm a mess every day. I'll look forward to seeing the 1658 thaler whenever your image host decides it wants to play ball Ian

Here's a 1659 1/24th thaler from Brandenburg ...and a couple of silver jetons from 1658. This one was minted for one of the lesser known accounting divisions of the Kings Treasury dealing with the army. This one was minted in 1658 for the Kings Counsel, but commemorates the taking of Montmedy in 1657.

speeding along, here's a 1663 jeton and a couple of 1662 coins. A `stock' jeton, but a pretty uncommon one. This is the only one of the type i've come across in silver. A 1662 Austrian 15 kreuzer An English 1662 Crown of Charles II (first bust) over to someone else for the next few years.

Hi Frank, I believe that it is a plan view of L'Eglise Royale du Val-de-Grace, Paris. Originally built by Anne of Austria as thanks to god for the safe birth of her son, the future king Louis XIV. Exactly why it was chosen for the Bastimens du Roi in 1664 escapes me, other than it would be one of the `aedifices royale' under their jurisdiction and maintenance. there was however extensive building work conducted on it commencing 1664. cheers, Ian (edit 5th october) Frank, i've looked at my CGB catalogues and the jeton is portrayed in `Jetons XIII'. Fortunately CGB still have a few of their catalogues available electronically. Here's a link to an example and another to commentary (no.33) indicating that the reverse is indeed a plan of Val de Grace. http://www.numismatique.org/images/monnaie...13/j13_0033.jpg http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/jetons/j13/j130005.html

Here's a 1665 jeton that's a wee bit corroded, but good enough for this purpose. It was issued to mark the election of M'sieu Voysin to his second term of office as Lord Mayor (Provost) of Paris. To help move it along, here's a 1664 jeton issued for the `Batiments du Roi' (the administration dealing with the Louis XIV's properties).

Here's a silver jeton dated 1666 issued for the parish of Ste. Genevieive in Paris. I am completely in the dark as to the `M' counterstamp. I'm pretty certain that it signifies the jeton having been used as coinage in one of the french colonies (Montserat?), but happy for any input on this. This one is a large silver ducaton (crown size) issued in 1666 for the city of Liege in modern day Belgium Ian

Here's a 1670 silver ducaton of Charles II of Spain struck at Bruges in current day Belgium. These coins were notoriously very crudely struck, and this one is (believe it or not) almost `as struck'.

copper jeton issued for B DeGivry, Sherrif of Metz in 1677

I like it but it's not one of my favourites. This one however is! A nice `city view' of Paris. A silver jeton dated 1682 and issued to mark the third term in office of the then Mayor of Paris. I'll duck out now for the next few decades to give someone else a chance Ian

Here's a couple of 1683 jetons The first was issued for the Brittany Estates (local government of Brittany region of France). It is actually a 1683 /1 but the scan doesn't pick it up very well The second is a 1683 copper jeton issued for the `batimens du Roi' (kings buildings)

OK. Time to put you guys out of your misery. Here's a 1684: a french silver jeton issued for the `ordinaire des guerres paparell tresor' (army treasury)

Here's another jeton from 1685, this one struck in silver and issued for the `Parties Casuelles' Ian

yep! that's definitely a beaut!