Germany (Nuremberg): brass jeton (mathematical counter) of Hanns Krauwinckel II, ca. 1586-1635

Germany (Nuremberg): brass jeton (mathematical counter) of Hanns Krauwinckel II, ca. 1586-1635


Obverse Legend: HANNS KRAVWINCKEL IN NVR ("Hanns Krauwinckel in Nuremberg").
Reverse legend: GOTTES GABEN SOL MAN LOB (Gottes Gaben soll man loben - "Appreciate blessings from God", or "One should praise God's gifts").

Hammered brass jeton (mathematical counting token) struck by the Nuremberg master Hanns Krauwinckel II between 1586 and 1635. These were used as mathematical aids on a counting board (the early modern version of a calculator). They circulated widely throughout Europe and England, and some have even been found by archaeologists at the site of the 1607 Jamestown settlement in the New World.

This example has a small hole near the center, which was perhaps used to pin it to the counting board? It cost me less than a sandwich would have. That's a lot of history for such a small sum.

 

I want a well struck and high-grade example of one of the alphabet jetons, which not only show all of the letters of the alphabet of the time (J and U weren’t in regular use yet), but also a picture of a man in elaborate 16th century costume using a counting board on the other side!