The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 13, March 27, 2005, Article 10

MORE ON THE UFO TOKEN

Philip Mernick writes: "Did anyone ever give a comment
on the "UFO"/"Flying Saucer" token from a few weeks
back? I don't recall seeing anything and have some
information."

[The "UFO" item was published in the January 30, 2005
issue (v8n5). The item in question is "a mysterious UFO-like
design on a 17th century French copper coin" described by
Ken Bressett.

The Men in Black swooped in on their helicopters and dragged
away the first two E-Sylum readers who tried to respond.
But using our connections in the numismatic underworld, I've
secured permission to publish Philip's information, which he
encrypted and emailed from an undisclosed location, just in
case. (It was NOT London. Really. It wasn't) -Editor]

He writes: "The item itself was correctly described as a jetton
and is listed as F12528 in Collection Feuardent, Jetons et
Mereau Depuis Louis IX jusqu#39;a la fin du Consulat de Bonaparte
by F. Feuardent, published by Rollin et Feuardent, Paris, 1913.
It would appear to be a version of F12527 which is coupled
with a portrait of Louis XIV and is dated 1656. Feuardent
describes the “UFO” as “un bouclier celeste” a celestial shield.
The depiction of a shield on the jeton is similar to one illustrated
in Juan de Borja, Empresas morales, first published Prague 1581
(illustration from Brussels 1680 edition). It is there described as
representing a timely occurrence. It could refer to an event in
the war against Spain or possibly to the return of Mazarin in
1653. The other side symbolises the revival of France (illustrated
by a lily plant being refreshed by rain from the sky).
Information originally supplied by Robert Thompson."

Ken Bressett writes: "Thanks for sending this information to me.
It is numismatically correct and informative. I have been having
lots of fun with this, and with prodding people to take a more
careful look at the designs on their coins. The article was never
intended to convince people that the object was a flying saucer,
but simply to stimulate public curiosity about old coins. And
secondarily to try and locate other examples of this scarce jetton.

Comments from people around the world (really) have suggested
that the "unidentified object" is variously: an umbrella, a sundial,
shield, wheel of life, jellyfish, flower, a crown, sand dollar, or an
umbrella. The most frequent responses opted for a sundial, or
shield.

As you might expect, the UFO guys really got a kick out of
this unusual piece, and read all sorts of things into it."

[Ken had been having trouble with his E-Sylum subscription.
He writes: "I am beginning to think that those Men in Black
have had something to do with blocking The E-Sylum from
my computer!" -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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