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NNP Blog

Apr 22 2025

Chester Sullivan Publishes on the Castorland Jetons

The Guide Book overview of the Castorland jetons notes “These medals, or ‘jetons,’ are dated 1796 and allude to a proposed French settlement known as Castorland in Carthage, New York, at the time of the French Revolution. They were given to directors of the colonizing company for their attendance at board meetings. Copy dies are still available and have been used at the Paris Mint for restriking throughout the years. Restrikes have a more modern look; their metallic content (in French) is impressed on the edge: ARGENT (silver), CIUVRE (copper), or OR (gold).”


Chester Sullivan has recently published a paper that details seven types of the Castorland pieces and includes a census of significant examples. Most significantly, the work separates initial strikes (100 pieces in bronzed copper, 673 examples in silver, three types) from medals struck later (four types, though still with the original dies). 


Link to How to Identify the Seven Types of Original-Dies Castorland Jetons on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/556055
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