FRENCH JETONS
    Jetons came into wide use in Europe in the 14th century.  They were used as counters for doing sums in the ridiculously complicated monetary systems of western Europe (England excluded).  Recall please that in France until the 18th century there were royal coins and provincial coins in gold, silver, billon, and copper with different and odd exchange rates.  An apocryphal example: a gold louis might get 5.23 silver ecus, 23 silver quarter ecus, etc., then 136.34 billon deniers, then 1441 copper liards.  Plus the provincial money that circulated locally.  What you did was you went to a money changer, who set your money on a board with various spaces for the various coins.  Then he stacked jetons on the spaces for your change until it came out even, then he gave you your change, minus the fee.
    That's how it worked.  Then there was the art.  Ecce:

FJ01) FRANCE, jeton, 26mm brass, arms of 3 lis, AVE MARIA GRACIA PL / lis-tipped cross in tressure, (15th c.), F $17.00 sold
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FJ1) FRANCE, jeton, 29mm brass, boat, VOLBVS:LA:GALLEE... / 4 lis in diamond, VIOE... (nonsense), (15th c.), aF $27.00 sold
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FJ2) FRANCE, jeton, 28mm brass, bust R, MAR . THER . D.G. FR . ET . NAV . REG . / queen in carriage L, AVGVSTE . PACIFERE . LVTETIAM . FELIX . INGRESSVS, 26 . AVG . 1660, small crack, VF $18.00 sold
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FJ4) FRANCE, jeton, 27mm copper, bust R, LVDOVICVS . MAGNVS . REX ., N / arrows shooting toward radiant sunface, mountains below, SECVRVS . AB . ALTO, somewhat crude, traces of luster, VF $23.00
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FJ10) FRANCE, jeton, 24mm brass, no date, laureate youthful bust L, LVD XV D G FR ET N REX / Mars with French shield standing on some other shield offering olive branch to Venus holding Spanish shield, PACIS FIRMANDA EREP TUM PIGNIGNIS, probably German or Low Countries strike, XF+ $27.00
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FJ11) FRANCE, jeton, 24mm brass, no date, laureate youthful bust L, LVD XV D G FR ET N REX / St. George standing on dragon, VIS ANIMICUM CORPORE CRESCIT, probably German or Low Countries strike, die flaw obscures St. George's head, AU $33.00 sold 1/10/2010
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FJ12) FRANCE, jeton, 24mm brass, 1743, older bust L, LVD XV D G FR ET NAV REX / equestrian statue, OPTIMO PRINCIPI MDCCXLIII, probably German or Low Countries strike, XF+ $27.00 sold 8/29/2010
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In the 17th and 18th centuries jeton makers in Germany and the Low Countries made a lot of French type jetons on order for French businesses, mostly because they worked cheaper.  They also imitated the French types for local use, q.v.German jeton page.

FJ8) FRANCE, jeton, 24mm brass, old bust L, LUD XVI REX GALL DEFUNCTUS / urn on which LOUIS XVI, SOL REGNI AETIT, D. 21 IAN. 1793, aVF $13.00 sold
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FJ7) FRANCE, jeton, 27mm brass, crowned bust R, CAROLUS X REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS / Virgin (?) flying R & annointing king kneeling L, DEO CONSECRATORI, REMIS 29 MAI MDCCCXXV, coronation of Charles X, 1825, punch, edge bump, VF+ $18.00 sold
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FJ6) FRANCE, jeton, 33mm bronze, octagonal, crowned conjoined arms / crowned monogram LMC (I think), no date, first half of 19th c., small scratch, VF+ $22.00
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FJ9) FRANCE, jeton, 28mm silver, 9.1g, arms under mural crown / CAISSE D'EPARGNE DE FRANCE O.R. 21 JANVIER 1821, plain edge with privy mark & ARGENT, XF-AU $45.00 sold
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