Ian Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 A silver jeton issued for the wardens of St Jaques de la Boucherie, ia church in the quartier de la Grande Boucherie, Paris. Jetons were struck originally under Louis XIV in 1703. This one was issued circa 1730 +/- but utilising the same reverse dies as those of the 1703 issue. Interestingly, there is a die crack evident in the strike which runs from the C in the reverse legend `Docetque' through to the 0 in the date in the exerge. St Jaques was also the patron saint of the Orfevres (goldsmith /jewellers guild of paris). This powerful guild also issued jetons bearing the same effigy of St Jaques, but without the date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Wow. That die could not have last much longer, or some unlucky guy was holding it together by hand as they struck the medals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted December 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 True. A die in its death throws, and (a bit on the dramatic side), it looks a bit like St Jaques is being struck by lightning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 But wait --weren't these done on a screw press? Does one see this kind of die breaks on a screw press? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted December 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 People with big powerful hands always found it easy to get a job at `La Medaille'. To become a monayer you had to be able to both hold, and screw the dies tightly together. I'm just amazed at how they managed to avoid serious burns given the heat that must have been generated in the process. Sometimes, for really special pieces, they also gave the dies a quick whack with a 25lb hammer. If the monayer wasn't fast enough he'd find that it was his hand being struck and not the dies. On such an occasion the shock waves would transmit through the hand, crack the die, and show evidence of the event on the jeton being created. Think about it. it's the only reasonable explanation for a die crack being evidenced on a jeton which has been struck that way.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiho Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Nice jeton Ian! That die crack reminds me of the scene from The Omen when the priest is impaled by the church spire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art1.2 Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Nice jeton Ian. I like the explanation for the die crack but am quite glad that it was not me holding the die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Catching up on the posts I missed whilst the wife and I were in Boston for 6 days doing the christmas tourist thing. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has a fine collection of over 19,000 numismatic items(most of them not on display) but they have a gallery of 500 ancient coins & some medals(including some renaissance ones) on display & with magnifying lenses with which to study them. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. Dare I say that is a cracking jeton Ian! BOSTON, MASS.- —Five hundred ancient Greek and Roman coins from the world-renowned collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, are showcased in the new Michael C. Ruettgers Gallery for Ancient Coins. It is the only gallery dedicated to coinage in a major US art museum and is unique for its emphasis on ancient coins as works of art—masterpieces on a miniature scale. The gallery also illustrates how coins are both a form of cultural expression—reflecting the customs, beliefs, and ideals of those who produced and used them—and primary documents of ancient history. It is named in recognition of Michael C. Ruettgers, whose generosity has made possible the creation of this spectacular new gallery. In addition, Mr. Ruettgers has given 14 rare and important Roman gold coins to the MFA, including Aureus with the bust of Aelius Verus (AD 137). To enhance visitors’ appreciation of these works, moveable magnifying lenses facilitate closer examination of the coins on view in several cases. In addition, by using iPads affixed to five cases running down the center of the gallery, visitors are able to explore in-depth 274 Greek and Roman coins using the new MFA Coins application developed by the MFA. It allows users to view both sides of each coin, to zoom in, and learn more about the significance of these objects. The app includes highlights of the coin collection, information about Greek and Roman coins, and a timeline of ancient coins. The iPad app is available for free download from Apple’s App Store, or by clicking on a link to the App Store on the new page for the Michael C. Ruettgers Gallery for Ancient Coins on the Museum’s website http://www.mfa.org/a...t-coins-gallery. Also in the gallery is a touchscreen where visitors can create their own coins—choosing symbols, motto, and metal—and learn the elements of a coin by designing one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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