French Jetons, but American History.

[Ian]

At the outbreak of the seven years war (1756-1763) the British Admiral John Byng was charged with bolstering up the British naval base at Port Mahon, Minorca in the Mediterranean sea. He arrived only to find the island under blockade from the French fleet under the command of Galissoniere.

 

The vanguard of the British fleet was savaged by the French, and Byng decided to cut his losses and head for Gibraltar. The result of that decision was that the French took Minorca and with it the strategically important Port Mahon base.

 

It is commonly held that Byng’s squadron was ill equipped for the task he had been set and the probabilities are that he would have been well trounced if he had not withdrawn. In the event, it appears that he was made a scapegoat for admiralty incompetence as evidenced by his subsequent court martial back in England. Although cleared of cowardice he still ended up being sentenced to death for dereliction of duty. He was executed in March 1757 on HMS Monarch in Portsmouth harbour by a shot to the back of his head.

 

Needless to say, the French duly celebrated their victory at Port Mahon, by issuing a silver jeton commemorating the event.

 

The first jeton shown has the bust of Louis XV facing to the right (obverse) and an eagle flying above the clouds, wind, and stormy seas (reverse) dated 1756 and signifying the first outbreak of naval hostilities between the two nations during the war.

 

 

So, what does all this have to do with the Americans? Well, there are two relevances. The first being the cost of the war on Britain and the effects it had on the colonies when taxes were increased to help defray these costs. The second relevance lies with a later French victory over the Brits.

 

Although the Brits went on to win the seven year war, it cost them dearly in economic terms. They had borrowed heavily from bankers both at home and in the Netherlands. The national debt rocketed skywards and needed repayment. This was accomplished (rather ill advisedly) by sharp increases in taxation. Nowhere was the taxation felt more painfully than the American colonies due to the imposition of harsh duties on imported goods like sugar, tea etcetera.. The seeds of discontent were sewn big time. It is generally understood that the seven year war directly led to the overt parting of the ways between the American colonies and Britain and led to the subsequent war of independence.

 

The American struggle for independence was heavily supported by the French both directly and indirectly. However, perhaps the most famous aspects of their direct input, and one which had a decisive effect on the eventual outcome of the war was the French naval victory over the British fleet at the second battle of Virginia Capes in 1781. The British navy was driven from Chesapeake bay effectively preventing the resupply of the British troops in Virginia under Cornwallis. Cornwallis surrendered four weeks later at Yorktown.

 

The French marked their victory at Chesapeake and the subsequent victory at Yorktown by issuing another jeton. Louis XVI felt that it would be good idea to have his name and face linked to his fathers previous victory over the British. His choice was to use the same reverse as the Port Mahon jeton excepting that the date on the original dies should be obliterated.

 

The `Yorktown' jeton has a young bust of Louis XVI facing right (obverse). The reverse is identical to the Port Mahon jeton excepting for the obliterated date. In the exergue you can clearly see a blob of surplus metal caused by the date having been deliberately chipped off of the original 1756 dies.

 

 

So, here we have two jetons much the same to the casual observation, but their stories are twenty five years apart. The stories span the life of two French kings; relate to the historic events leading to and having decisive effect on the war of independence. French jetons they may be, but their history relates to three nations.

[28Plain]

Good history lesson, Ian. The study of coins involves the study of history, politics and economics. Coins, tokens and medals are struck for reasons. Sometimes those reasons are preserved in history mainly as a result of the survival of the coins.

[Ætheling]

Nowhere was the taxation felt more painfully than the American colonies due to the imposition of harsh duties on imported goods like sugar, tea etcetera.. The seeds of discontent were sewn big time.  It is generally understood that the seven year war directly led to the overt parting of the ways between the American colonies and Britain and led to the subsequent war of independence.

 

 

Hmm the Boston Tea Party... i still shudder to think of all that wasted tea. What a loss.

[Ian]

Hmm the Boston Tea Party... i still shudder to think of all that wasted tea. What a loss.

 

Ah but it could have been much worse. A small mercy perhaps, but at least it wasn't Earl Grey tea that went overboard. ;-)

[Ian]

Good history lesson, Ian.  The study of coins involves the study of history, politics and economics.  Coins, tokens and medals are struck for reasons.  Sometimes those reasons are preserved in history mainly as a result of the survival of the coins.

 

Thanks mate. The history behind those two jetons was crying out to be told.

 

Ian

[mmarotta]

Fascinating.

[Ætheling]

Ah but it could have been much worse. A small mercy perhaps, but at least it wasn't Earl Grey tea that went overboard. ;-)

 

 

Now that would have been sacralige! We can only hope it was Dajeeling that went overboard!

[UncleBobo]

Two kings

Two jetons

Two battles

Great story!

[geordie582]

"Ah but it could have been much worse. A small mercy perhaps, but at least it wasn't Earl Grey tea that went overboard. ;-) "

Is that why we can't get a decent cup of tea in the USA?

[okrecer03]

Good history!

 

....That is why I like the old Colonial coinage so much..each coin represents so much history.

[Peter]

I will 2nd that Geordie....the request for tea was frowned upon...the beer !!!!!!....(It wasn't even warm and flat)well after chemical lager the only option was cocktails....UUUGGGG.

Thank goodness for proper tea (Teapot) real ale's and English Rose's.

[Ætheling]

I wouldn't go to the US unless i could take some tea in tow with me.

[geordie582]

We always take our own tea, and it's surprising how much the 'locals' enjoy it!

[Ætheling]

This is what happens when the English arrive on a forum, first thing they do is set up a Tea Room...

 

 

[PAB]

No sugar in mine. In a china cup and saucer I assume. (I actually prefer a 1 pint, chipped enamel mug - more tea.)

 

PAB

[Conder101]

It is possible to get good tea here in the states, but you won't find it in a resturant. You have to locate a good coffee shop, and I don't mean Starbucks. were you can buy some good imported teas. Of course it's imported from England.

[Ætheling]

I don't even go to Starbucks in this country! (I associate Starbucks with being mostly coffee and thus i avoid it, i avoid all coffee shops too). I generally prefer to call in at a tearoom.

 

Of failing that a cafe and get a chocolate milkshake.

[Ian]

Since my initial post I discovered that there were at least two different busts of Louis XV used for the jeton issued in 1756. The normal jeton issued for `La Marine' bore the bust of the Grand Admiral de France, in this case Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duc de Penthievre who was the Grand Admiral of France at the time of the French victory at Port Mahon in 1756. I have been fortunate to have managed to find and purchase one of these.

 

 

I now realise that I should have posted the initial post in the exonumia section. Any way of having it transferred over there?

 

Ian

[gxseries]

Done Ian

[bill]

And, I like the bust on your new acquisition.

[grivna1726]

Since my initial post I discovered that there were at least two different busts of Louis XV used for the jeton issued in 1756. The normal jeton issued for `La Marine' bore the bust of the Grand Admiral de France, in this case Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duc de Penthievre who was the Grand Admiral of France at the time of the French victory at Port Mahon in 1756. I have been fortunate to have managed to find and purchase one of these.

 

 

I now realise that I should have posted the initial post in the exonumia section. Any way of having it transferred over there?

 

Ian

 

I'm not sure where this thread was originally posted, but it's a good one.

 

I find that stamp and medal collectors often have a greater appreciation of the historical and political importance of the objects they collect than coin people do. And I will say so fearlessly while wearing my asbestos suit.

[bpmurphy]

Searching the older posts I found this thread and thought I'd share my examples of this Jeton. I have five examples, each from a different obverse die.

 

Interestingly, the four with Louis XV all have milled edges, the one with Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon has a plain edge.

 

Unfortunately the only book I have ont jetons is Mitchiner so I don't know if these are all normal, known, unkown, or otherwise.

 

Barry Murphy

[Ian]

Nice examples you have.

 

The standard reference for royal jetons is Feuardent, although modern dealer / auction catalogues tend to reference more variants than are noted in Feuardent. As such it is a starting point for research, but by no means the `one stop shop' for referencing.

 

I'll check out Feuardent and my CGB catalogues when I get the chance and get back to you.

 

I suspect you have more jetons in your collection than the ones shown here.

 

Feel free to post images of them. I'm well and truly `hooked' on collecting these little history encapsulating metal discs!

[bill]

Upper right, third medal is F. 1393, apparently in silver instead of copper, and the next one, lower left or fourth medal, is F. 1394. The fact the Feuardent does not list all the varieties does not surprise me. Nice set of jetons.