★ Tudor Jetons of Elizabeth I ★

TUDOR. temp. Elizabeth I. 1558-1603. AR Jeton (30mm, 5.75 g, 4h). The Treaty of Nonsuch. Dordrecht mint. Dated 1585. · SPRETA · AMBROSIA · VESCITOR · FENO · 1585 ( With “ambrosia” removed thou shalt feed upon hay ), two Dutchmen standing left, eating hay out of trough with horse and mule / MACTE · ANIMI · ROSA · NECTARE · IMBVTA ( Hurrah for your spirit with a rose moistened with nectar ), Elizabeth I enthroned right on throne, holding rose branch and scattering blooms before two Dutchmen kneeling left. Dugniolle 3044; van Loon I 362; MI 133/86; Eimer 51. Iridescent toning, minor hairline flan crack. EF.

Originally intended as a calculation aid, or as a money substitute in contemporary games, counters (French: jeton ; Dutch: rekenpenning ) were used across Europe from the 13th to the 17th centuries). Cheap to produce, since they were minted in copper or bronze, they became popular among the citizenry. As their use as calculation aids waned, these counters became used as vehicles for propaganda. During the Wars of Religion (1562-1598), which included the Dutch Revolt (1568-1648) and the Spanish Armada (1588), the rekenpenningen of the Low Countries promoted their own side and that of their allies. For the Dutch Republic (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden), the subject matter included events in England, since the Dutch rebels relied heavily on Elizabeth I. Consequently, these rekenpenningen, which can be found in Medallic Illustrations and Eimer, can be quite comfortably located among other medals of British history.