FANTASY JERSEY FIVE REICHMARK TOKEN

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V21 2018 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 40, October 7, 2018, Article 9

This is one of a series of fantasies of Channel Islands tokens. There are very roughly a dozen different. They appeared in the late 1960s at the earliest. The Channel Islands were indeed occupied by Nazi Germany, but I am not aware of any metallic numismatica. The notion that Germany would issue high-denomination tokens, regulating daily life under the dreary prevailing conditions, is ridiculous.

I think there may be an article in the Numismatics International Bulletin from the 1970s, cataloging the series. I don't think Schwan-Boling's book, World War II Remembered includes them.

They are now about a half-century old, and may be worth $10-15, as fantasies, silly as they are.

Thanks. I wasn't even aware that Germany had occupied the islands. Even so, that did sound like a very high denomination for a token. Thanks for the background.

I checked the Newman Numismatic Portal using a number of search term variations and even the Advanced Search feature to look just in the NI Bulletin, but was unable to locate the article Paul mentioned. But an internet search did turn up the following page on a War Relics site. -Editor

For the last 42 years I have collected WW.2 German militaria, and in the last 25 years have specialised in items that can be proven to have a direct link with the Channel Islands. I like soldbuch, wehrpass, photo albums, permits and I/D cards both military and civilian. Occasionally you will find items like helmets with a name, rank and FP number...to me that is like the holy grail. As you would expect over the years other collectors and dealers who I know have contacted me to say they have picked up and seen items that might be what I am after which is fantastic that they have taken the time to bother. On some occasions I have been offered what are known as "Jersey tokens", unfortunately I then have to let the people know that what they have are in fact FANTASY items made in the USA in the late 60's early 70's.

These tokens are not even based on real items..... no such tokens were ever used in any of the Islands during the Occupation, and in all my years of collecting I have never been to a private call locally and been shown any of these tokens as items left over and saved from the Occupation years. I have spoken with a number of collectors who just don't believe me and they reckon I am trying it on. I even had a major US dealer collector insist that the example he had was 100% original as he picked it up years ago at a gun show..... in the USA, so it had to be real.

Well the reason for this post is to let you all know that they are totally fantasy without any shadow of a doubt. So if your offered them, unless you do want them as a curio then stay well away from them. I have seen them for sale at upto £35 each, and they turn up quite often on Ebay..... the sellers you have guessed it, in the USA. Years ago when I was a kid they even used to advertise them as sets for sale in the Exchange and Mart.

To read the complete article, see:
Channel Island fantasy tokens (http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/orders-decorations-third-reich/channel-island-fantasy-tokens-327874/)