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 Replies: 7 / Views: 2,385 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4418 Posts |
This suspected French jeton or game counter has three, tiny counterstamps on the reverse. While I was able to attribute the counterstamps, I have not as yet been able to find info on the host token. When and where was it made and by whom? Is there a catalogue for these, and has this one been recorded?   The reverse side, central shield is neatly counterstamped as follows: M.J.J. CO. / ST. LOUIS / STERLING Possibly, this company made this jeton? The token appears to pay tribute to French King Louis IX for whom St. Louis was named. Here's a pic of the company's early catalog cover found online. Note the most impressive building!  The Mermod-Jaccard Jewelry Company was located on the corner of Broadway and Locust in St. Louis. A.S. Mermod merged with E.Jaccard in 1864. The company manufactured a wide variety of silver products, the mainstay of which were jewelry items and silverware. Brunk does not as yet list this counterstamp issue. Edited by ExoGuy
05/15/2016 11:27 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
627 Posts |
This does not look like the normal French made jetons. My guess is that it is some sort of souvenir or advertisement piece made by the company identified by the counterstamps. PCGS uses the Feuardent book for attributing Jetons: https://archive.org/details/jetonse...xd00unkngoogVictor Gadoury issues a "price list" type identification book in 1991 called simply "Jetons 1991". That book is sort of difficult to find a copy, but it is nice in that it gives "relative" rarities (based on prices) and lots of pictures. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
807 Posts |
Yes, given the irregular shape, and the spelling error "RETNAT" (for REGNAT, XPC REGNAT = "Christ Reigns"), I suspect it was made by this jeweler.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4418 Posts |
@brg5658 ... Thanks for the info. It does look like Mermod-Jaccard made this piece then. I also managed to acquire a silver fleur-de-lis pin with identical maker marks.
The linked book on on jetons is in French ... no parley-vuz here!
@publius ... You make a good point about the shape, and thanks for the Latin lesson!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
627 Posts |
All of the books on French Jetons are in French (as far as I know). The Gadoury book from 1991 is also in French. With Google translate, it's not insurmountable to make sense of.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1699 Posts |
I have one of these also. The shape is different, which means it was likely meant to look old when produced.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4418 Posts |
@errorcoins222 .... Can you post a pic of yours?
The M.J.J.Co. stamp dates this one to the late 1800's, I believe. As there's no indication that mine was used as jewelry, I'm guessing that it was perhaps a souvenir or related to a fraternal organization. Regardless, it did serve to be reminiscent of the French roots of the region.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1699 Posts |
I'll try to post a photo on Tuesday - I can't do it today.
And thanks for posting this. I've learned a lot about it. I had simply purchased it as sterling and threw it in the junk pile!
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Replies: 7 / Views: 2,385 |
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Posted 05/16/2016 11:42 pm
