Trial die strikes 1 1

[Zebo]

I recently picked up one of these. They were struck using four or five diffent medals for Israel. Below are the sterling silver and bronze types. I wrote up a journal entry on these dies and the ones for Palestine, but it never posted and I lost it. So this is just a tease.

[RWB]

Interesting tokens. What a goofy illustration -- a slave wearing a Centurion's helmet and toga? Absurd.

[DWLange]

That's Britannia to you, mister! I believe that device was used also for the UK's early 1960s decimal coinage trials.

[Zebo]

On 8/8/2021 at 1:47 PM, RWB said:

Interesting tokens. What a goofy illustration -- a slave wearing a Centurion's helmet and toga? Absurd.

That’s what makes them interesting. 

 

In Roman mythology, Moneta (Latin Monēta) was a title given to two separate goddesses: It was the name of the goddess of memory (identified with the Greek goddess Mnemosyne), and it was an epithet of Juno, called Juno Moneta (Latin Iūno Monēta). The latter's name is the source of numerous words in English and the Romance languages, including “money" and "mint".

 

What struck me about this piece is the combination of a Roman (?) hammering out coins on the obverse combined with the Star of David with date on the reverse

 

These trial strikes were produced using different types of metal including cupronickel, nickel, aluminum, bronze, and stainless steel. I currently believe that they were made for Israel to test for wear and possible usage such as in vending machines.  These coins were minted in slightly different sizes and with different reverses. 

 

I've heard that these trial strikes were also produced for Palestine, which is an interesting story of its own. 

 

Shortly after World War I, Britain took control of an area known as the Palestine Mandate. The region, which was created out of land formerly controlled by the Ottoman Empire, consisted of the territory we know of today as the nation of Israel, the Palestinian Administrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. To effectively administer this area, a stable monetary system was required. As a result, a unique numismatic event took place, one that will probably never occur again. The British Palestine Mandate coins were minted. These were the only coins that have ever minted with the word "Palestine" inscribed on them. Under the aegis of the British Mandate, coins were minted from 1927 to 1946. Coins dated 1947 were minted, but not distributed.

What makes these coins special is that they were they only coins in history that were minted with the name of a sovereign country that never existed: Palestine. (Copied from the National Jewish Museum website). 

 

 

 

[Zebo]

I also find it interesting that at least a stainless steel example was included in the Jules Revier collection. Revier was an interesting man. A Cap Bust specialist. Besides his collecting accomplishments - he served in World War II and was recognized in a chapter of a book on the Battle of the Bulge. Rievier's character was played by Henry Fonda in the movie. He was awarded a Bronze Star. I find it interesting that a U.S. cap bust specialist would have one of these British trial strikes in their collection.  
 

interesting guy and interesting coin.

Edited August 9, 2021 by Zebo

[Henri Charriere]

Love those denticles!   🐓