Bee Hive tokens?

I have come across poker chips, tokens and other numismatic items with a bee hive as the pictorial and I am wondering if anyone knows the history or how long this device has been used and what the significance is or what country first used it? Good example below, Anyone know?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1792-CONDER-TOK...070?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c25863fe

 

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copied text for your reference:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the beehive as a representation of the industry, harmony, order and frugality of the people, and of the sweet results of their toil, union and intelligent cooperation.

 

the freemasons have been using the beehive since around 1724.

 

You will often see it on French medals, too, as a symbol of the work ethic.

Chris

 

Here are some from the 16th and 17th centuries:
http://www.beecoins.com/renaiscance.htm

Christian

 

Those are very cool looking

 

I think there may be some civil war tokens that have a beehive on them.

 

You find it on honey cans, too.




(couldn't resist....it was sitting right beside me.)

 

Mormon Beehive Gold Coin

This link shows a piece of Mormon Gold in an NGC slab.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1849-TERRITORIA...12?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item2a0b3fe444

 

One of my favorite drawings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder "The Beekeepers" [metmuseum.org]


[FONT=geneva,arial,sans-serif]
The Beekeepers, ca. 1567–68
Pieter Bruegel the Elder (Netherlandish, 1525/30–1569)
Pen and brown ink; 8 x 12 1/8 in. (20.3 x 30.9 cm)
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett [/FONT]

 

+1

 

Plenty of cool responses for certain, a vintage looking honey can and a cool engraving and some links for me to check out. Yea!! :thumb: