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 Replies: 11 / Views: 3,602 |
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Valued Member
United States
360 Posts |
 Anyone have ideas on this one? It seems to picture a pretzel on the obverse and has a 50 on the reverse. It is brass, measures 24.5mm, and weighs 3.98 grams. I suspect it'e German but ....
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Valued Member
United States
83 Posts |
The pretzel shape is a symbol for a bakery.
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Valued Member
 United States
360 Posts |
Thank yo9u. Is it onloy Germany or all of Europe?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Pretzels and beer are sold together at events like Oktoberfest. I have seen beer tokens with pretzels before--I just don't have the photos on hand. To my eyes, the style looks older--WWI or earlier.
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Valued Member
United States
83 Posts |
I spent a number of years in Estonia and I've noticed that symbol in all of "Germanic" europe that I've seen. Like a barber pole, when you see the hanging plaque with the pretzel on it, its a bakery. Back in the 1200s and up with the Lubeck rule over the Baltic Sea, the Germanic culture spread widely.
Edited by kensho52
02/28/2012 2:55 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
My comments weren't intended to disprove your personal experience.  Obviously, what you say about bakeries and the pretzel makes complete sense. My observation about beer and pretzels may have nothing to do with this token. |
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Valued Member
United States
83 Posts |
I didn't see that at all... I was reminiscing about my time in Europe, and I tend to rattle on and on..... :)
I too am curious what this really is....probably nothing like I'm guessing.... :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2605 Posts |
I've been to Estonia a couple of times (very beautiful part of the world), mostly in rural area though. And there everything was more about milk rather than beer.
I wonder if the stars of David could provide a clue?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I have seen six-pointed stars on a lot of 19th century coins--I don't think there's a religious significance.
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Valued Member
Turkey
123 Posts |
Hmm looks like we do not have much information. But it looks like a coin rather than token for me. Because tokens are generally marketing tools they usually have a brand name or logo on them. And I do not think that any pastry shop may struck a token for 50 pretzels? Who can eat 50 pretzels anyway? :D
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2887 Posts |
I think it is clearly a token. Not all tokens are for advertising - some are used mearly as a means of exchange - some are used as a way of getting around licencing laws - there are a host of reasons.
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Valued Member
Turkey
123 Posts |
So maybe it was the 50th anniversary of a bakery shop. And this coin or token whatever it is, they put one or more of it in to the dough. And they gave gifts to the lucky customer-s found it in their bread or something. It looks like chewed a bit. :D
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Replies: 11 / Views: 3,602 |
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Posted 02/28/2012 2:28 pm
