Even falser shekel

[bagerap]

The Gorlitzer or false shekel comes in many varieties, and some are worth serious money. A collection of 65 pieces sold for EUR 3,200, and should have done better.
I keep a few, the design appeals to me, and some of the nicer ones were made by Spencer, London; thought by many to be a forerunner of Toye, Kenning & Spencer. A good one can be in the range £40-60.
I've just picked up something strange, the top pics are of a piece from the late C19th. 36 x 3 mm, 14.9gr.
Bottom pics are of the newbie, 36 x 3.5 mm 7.1 gr. Almost certainly aluminium and possibly made yesterday.
Anyone else come across these?

[Figleaf]

Found that auction. The reference they use was written by Bruno Kisch, not Guido Kisch.

Peter

[bagerap]

Yes, I know it well:

So-called "false shekels" were produced (mostly) in Europe from the 15th to the 20th centuries. Some were produced as pilgrim mementos but many were made to deceive. The majority follow the design pattern seen here, though with variants, and they exist in a variety of metals.
cf: Kisch, Bruno: Historia Judaica, v3, no 2, pp67-101"

[malj1]

I understood these to be part of masonic regalia. Dr. Bruno Kisch says may have been used by an English Masonic chapter in their sacred rites.

However they are for sale by Toye & Co as  Masonic Regalia / Mark Degree Regalia / White Shekel. - unfortunately they do not mention the metal.

I imagine this is the successor to  Toye, Kenning & Spencer.

I have a lead piece.

Edit The link above is dead, Toye & Co are now Toye, Kenning & Spencer.

[bagerap]

Simples. It would appear that the modern stuff also carries the marking "Spencer, London". I wonder if they are using the same dies? Thanks Malcolm, another mystery solved.

[bagerap]

Years later, the plot thickens. I've just picked up an identical piece signed Kenning London. And there's no matching record for that.

[Figleaf]

In the opening post, you mention

some of the nicer ones were made by Spencer, London; thought by many to be a forerunner of Toye, Kenning & Spencer.

BTW, I have been in Israel a few times, though decades ago, always looking for anything resembling a coin and I haven't come across these. FWIW.

Some were produced as pilgrim mementos

Peter

[bagerap]

Yes Peter but all the existing examples so far have been stamped Spencer. I can find none attributed to Kenning. Strangely, Israelis are my main customers for these white metal examples. Not so much so the brass.

[africancoins]

I got the following piece about 3 years ago, not from a source with any specific masonic connection....

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Large masonic piece, likely British, false shekel sort of piece "No" ("o" being superscript and underlined) to left and "9" to right of cup on obverse (evidently machine engraved, and no nunbering seen before on one of these), around the cup varied Hebrew legend (usual) plus tiny "KENNING, LONDON" below cup // usual varied Hebrew legend around branch to the reverse. Diameter 34mm (large), plain rims and edge, white metal, bright, around xf.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I have assumed it to be "masonic" from what I have seen about these in the past... note this piece includes "No 9" added to one side.... otherwise it is like the piece in the most recent image here. (I have not looked at my piece today - so cannot say if it has any other differences).

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[bagerap]

So, from zero Kennings we have gone to two. I'm trying to dig into the history of Toye, Kenning & Spencer as a combined company as well as the individual histories. Modern pieces exist marked as Toye & Co and that appears to be their current trading name. Spencer was independant until 1947 and it is known that they were producing the white metal shekels as early as 1890. Where and what is the tie in with Kenning is my next quest.

[malj1]

There was a lovely silver shekel on eBay recently and I fully expected to see it appear here soon after. 

As this has not happened I shall have to load the eBay images myself!

Seller commented: 33mm looks silver but suspect it may be silver plated brass.

It sold at £38 

[bagerap]

Another one appeared on ebay today, and I'm pretty sure that it will be seen here very soon.

[malj1]

I shall be interested to know whether it is in fact silver plated brass.

[bagerap]

You & me too brother.

[bagerap]

When the vendor said "The shekel's in the post" I didn't expect it this quickly.
Looks to be silver washed on brass rather than silver plated.