I just picked this token up, thought it was a fitting one to post at this time as well, I found it very odd but found some info to explain it: Obverse: Chimney Sweep with Ladder and Clover riding a pig / Prosit Neujahr Reverse: Horseshoe with text / gluck und segen mich hegen und pflegen ich bringe dir Quick explination of what this is: There is a long tradition in Austria, Germany and other European nations to mint tokens and print cards for the new years...after some time it started to become light hearted and the image of a chimney-sweep with a pig developed as well as the imagry of a four leaf clover and a horseshoe which all mean good luck. This token is wishing you a happy new years and good luck. There are a wide variety of these minted since the early 30's when the mint in Viena started minting Prosit Neujahr coins. Vienna mint issued a series of 23mm copper pieces up to 1938; these with only one main design, the reverse being either a repeat of the obverse, a date, blank, or an advertisement. Right from these early days they were used as commercial promotion pieces, which is now probably their main use. From 1948 a choice of metal finishes were available; aluminium for a few years only, bronze and, predominantly for quite a while, brass. By the 1960s plated pieces were being produced as well, to create the impression of a bright silver or gold finish. It is certainly possible to find some years' pieces in several different forms. Certain symbols repeat themselves, not all used on every piece: the lucky cat, the horseshoe, the four leaf-clover and the pig. The sweep, always has a ladder and is either walking, carrying the pig...or in this case, riding it. These have now been minted by many different groups and companies, with every imaginable combo of the imagry or Sweep, pig, horseshoe and clover, as promo peices and are still minted today. I just happened along this token at a show so I know very little about them save what I have read from a few sites that discuss them. Its hard to pass up a man riding a pig!! the link below is a guy who seems to have quite a few but I dont think mine is listed there. Its a shame that its corroded on the back, I have a feeling it might be difficult to find another example like this as it seems a little less common, nor do I know how to treat the problem...I assume this is plated brass. http://www.austriancoins.com/tokensmint-1.html
Great looking token Drusus One thing I can tell you Ruben is that in parts of the UK at least it is thought to bring good luck when you invite a chimney sweeper into your home at New year and also for Brides to see a sweep before a wedding. Dont know about the pig though LOL
Just like the chimney sweeper, the horseshoe or the four-leaf clover, it is considered to be a symbol of luck. Surprising, eh? (The horseshoe as a symbol of luck should be the other way round, ie. U shaped, though.)
