Jetton, foreign, issued at Nuremberg, Germany.

Brass reckoning counter, or jetton

Nuremberg, Germany, 16th-17th century

In daily business jettons were most commonly used for reckoning accounts, used on a checker-board in the manner of an abacus. In the 16th century and later, Nuremberg was responsible for the production of vast quantities of such counters. Cornelius Laufer was a prominent Nuremberg maker and this example is of a type of stock-jetton found in great numbers in England, which persisted throughout the 17th century. The reverse depicts the Reichsapfel, or orb, and the legend CORNELIVS.LAVFFER.IN.NVRNBERG.