Palestine - Charity token - the 19' century. this token was used during the time of the Turkish ...

Palestine - Charity token - the 19' century. this token was used during the time of the Turkish regime in Palestine, There was a critical shortage of small change which created a problem for the merchants and beggars. The Yeshiva struck tokens which were redeemable by them, and sold to the merchants and beggars at the rate of 20 tokens for ten Turkish paras. The tokens were very crude cut from sheets of yellowand white bronze, and minted by hammer-strking the planchets on a handmade wooden die. The dies were cut by hand, which created many varieties. The token resembled the medieval bracteate. These tokens were also used by the "Chevra Kadisha", (wealthy members of a Congregaton) to give to the beggars at a jewish funeral for participation as a "professional mourner". They sre called in most instances the "Chevra Kadisha" token, although they were used by merchants and beggars alike. metal: copper or brass. size: 27 mm.