Franco-American Jetons
1755 Franco-American Jeton. The Argonauts and the Golden Fleece. Betts-390, Breton-515, Frossard-36. Copper. Plain Edge. MS-63 BN (PCGS).
Coin turn. 106.9 grains. 28.9 mm. Glossy medium brown with a good deal of mint color around the design elements and peripheries. A few little marks are seen on the portrait's throat, and some trivial hairlines are present, but this piece is positively lovely overall. The provenance is perhaps even more desirable than the grade, documented with an adorable circular bi-fold paper roundel inscribed with the Cleneay pedigree. The reverse legend and imagery takes its inspiration from the classics, depicting the vessel of Jason and his Argonauts but with a beaver pelt in place of the Golden Fleece. The legend, translated as "not less valuable than the golden one" drives home the point that riches were to be had in Canada's fur trade.
PCGS# 528820.
From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from S.H. and Henry Chapman's sale of the Thomas Cleneay Collection, December 1890, lot 296; David Bullowa's sale of June 1953, lot 769.
Estimate: $500