1640

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Description:

Description: Municipal Presence Token - City of Haarlem
Maker:
Location:
Inventory number: Typograhia: British Museum: 1980,1202.68
Year: 1631
Links: Typographia: [Scan 1], [Scan 2], [Scan3]. Typograhia: [Scan 3]

Comments:

William Blades (1869): Haarlem 1640 (?), Plate K. ‘Obverse. A female figure representing Typography, her right hand holding a laurel wreath, and her left resting upon the bar-handle of a printing-press. Rays of light descend upon her head. Upon her right a stone pillar rises, em- blematical of durability, upon which is engraved the word TYPOGRAHIA (sic). Over the pillar is the letter S, and over the press the letter C, for Senatus Con- sulto. In the Exergue is only the word HARLEMUM.’

The first coin - illustration below - states ‘TYPOGRAHIA’. The second coin - illustration above - corrects this. Probably in the same year, but that needs to be confirmed.

Numista note: ‘NOTE: These medals were used as “jetons de présence”, one being presented to each Councillor as he entered the Council Chamber [of the Town Council at Haarlem]. They were afterwards exchanged for currency, at a certain time and at a fixed rate. This continual circulation accounts for the very bad condition in which they are mostly found.’

The British Museum states that the production date of this coin was in 1772. Click on ‘images’.

Technique:

Brass casting.

References:

Blades, William (1869) A list of medals, jettons, tokens, & c., in connection with printers and the art of printing. London. (see Plates K and L).