I bought a French token recently because it has three unicorns. It is dated 1693.... so maybe too new for this forum. The token and description are below. It looks like the token circulated some. A web search found several similar tokens with even more wear. Can anyone tell me why these were minted and / or how they were used. De Combe, Provost of the Mint of Riom Dated 1693 Metal : bronze Diameter: 28.5 mm, Orientation dies: 6 h, Weight: 9.82 g. Edge: Striated obliquely Obverse legend: Mr. DE COMBE ESr Lt GENERAL PREVOST OF MONNOYE. Obverse description: Shield with the arms of De Combe, crowned and surmounted by a unicorn, and supported by two unicorns Reverse legend: DVCALIS. ARVERNORVM. CIVITAS. . Reverse description: Shield with arms of Riom crowned in a crown formed of two branches, RI - OM around.
It appears to me to be a jeton. These were used as mathematical counters, game pieces, and sometimes for political propaganda.
The text is part of the minutes of a meeting at the French Numismatic Society on January 6, 1900. On May 30, 1690, Louis XIV 's government decreed the opening of a new mint house in Riom and La Rochelle to speed up monetary reforms. In 1693, De Combe was appointed head of the mint (provost) so he minted this jeton to commemorate this auspicious event!!!
I had a (later) French jeton in my Box of 20 collection up until fairly recently (late last year): France: silver jeton of Louis XV, "Aurora in cloud chariot", undated (ca. 1740)
@lordmarcovan Nice Jeton. These pieces must have circulated as money,pocket pieces, math counters, etc. because I find them in grades from well worn to uncirculated when I do google searches. Most of the ones with this design were minted on flans smaller than the designs so parts of the lettering and edge design are off the flan. Most are not well centered, but not off so much as the major design is off the flan. They look a bit like ancient coins in that regard!
