This looks like a transport token, my thinking is from the area around Denmark, Norway or Sweden etc.
Brass and 22mm.
All the Swedish and Danish transport tokens I've seen have some indication of the geographical area they're valid in. (And Copenhagen's mermaid only has one tail.)
The two-tailed mermaid reminds me of the old Starbucks logo:
(http://www.brandautopsy.com/images/various/sbux_logo_pre_1987_2.jpg)
Could this be a Starbucks coffee token?
Searched Starbucks on Google but no sign of a token apart from chocolate coins, although I rather doubt a company such as Starbucks would issue something without their name displayed prominently. But as you point out the same logic applies to transport companies.
The logo appears to have changed now to this one...
Good lead, but not yet. The double-tailed mermaid is a heraldic symbol. It is therefore important that she is uncrowned on the token, crowned in the case of the Starbucks logo. I have been looking among city arms without luck. My best guess at the moment is parking token.
Peter
The logo on the other side looks pretty much like the one that Dresdner Bank (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Dresdner-Bank-Logo.svg) used before the Commerzbank merger/takeover. That triangle-hexagon and the "house color" green, both designed by Otl Aicher, were quite characteristic. But maybe the logo is or was used by others too?
Side note: After the merger, Commerzbank kept its dominant color yellow (and did away with Dresdner Bank's green). However, it adopted the triangle-hexagon logo (and did away with its old logo). See the "logo timeline" (https://www.commerzbank.com/de/hauptnavigation/konzern/die_marke_commerzbank/markengeschichte/Markengeschichte.html) at the bank's site.
Christian
Yes that is certainly the same. I have been puzzling over that logo, its something I have seen frequently, but I have only once been in Germany for a few days - over thirty years ago.
I see Wikipedia say 'It does not meet the threshold of originality needed for copyright protection, and is therefore in the public domain.' So the same logo could be used elsewhere.
Quote from: malj1 on April 03, 2012, 08:02:58 AM
The logo appears to have changed now to this one...
A mermaid with bare breasts would not have worked for a nationwide company in the US, I suppose.
http://colleenanderson.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/starbucks-and-the-censored-mermaid/
In a Polish town they went the other way so to say. More about the Ustka Breast Augmentation ;D here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Ustka
Here is a mermaid like the one on the token - two tails and no crown:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunajov
But I don't quite believe your token is from there ...
Christian
Very interesting.... I would say the image has no breasts and a short back and sides haircut - hence my query merman, but very convincing otherwise.
Is that the sea above the figure on my token? or a representation of a coffee aroma? sniff 8)
Another piece with an animal 'Bull'? same size, metal, and same reverse as the mermaid piece. perhaps for a game?
Why didn't you post that second one earlier? ;D Guess these are zodiac signs - aquarius and taurus:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac#Table_of_dates
Christian
That's it! the second one arrived today from Prosit; this gave the clue - but you're right ....and only ten more to discover.
Here is my third piece which confirms its a zodiac series.
The twins
The logo reminds me of that of the National Westminster bank.
Peter
Yes Christian has also thought it was similar to the Dresdner Bank logo used at one time, perhaps a bank may have issued this series of zodiac coins?
savings token from dresdner bank :
NEU & OVP für Sammler: Dresdner Bank Sparwegweiser & Münze, Sternzeichen Stier (https://www.ebay.de/itm/312596829789)
these tokens have been made in brass and in brass plated iron :
Zodiac (http://www.jezuss.nl/zo/zodiac.htm#009)
Quote from: Figleaf on April 03, 2012, 08:22:06 AM
My best guess at the moment is parking token.
HA! A money parking token ;) I knew it.
Most enjoyable id, jezuss.
Peter