Token - Louis XIV - Trésor Royal - Tot Aeraria Quot Cives

Reverse

A hive with a swarm of bees around.
Date below lettering in exergue. Denticled border

Script: Latin

Lettering:
TOT ÆRARIA QUOT CIVES ·
ÆRARIUM · REGIUM
·1701·

Translation:
Much treasure as topics
"So many state coffers are as citizens"
Royal Exchequer

Edge

Plain

Comment

The token refers to the accession of the minor Louis XV on 1 September 1715 the regency of Philippe d'Orleans Prime Minister. Here is the loyalty to the King is called for in the bee symbol. There is a motif same jeton from 1731 with age-matched bust. Here we have an indication that the stamp of tokens were often used for decades.
This token from 1701 is probably in the context of the start of the Spanish War of Succession (1701-1714) and appeals to the "Bienenfleiss" (industriousness) and common sense of the population - to say, the king needed money for the war, and he makes it clear where he wants to pick up. Little has changed to this day.

The bee is a versatile symbol of immortality, also for fertility, prosperity, common sense and obedience to their queen. For these reasons, as were bees placed on the jacket, Napoléon I on the occasion of his coronation was in 1804. Same importance also had the golden bee (who were actually cicadas, but are also to be understood as symbols of death and resurrection) that in 1653 found in the grave of Childeric, the founder of the Merovingian dynasty. These 'bees' were stolen in 1831 from the National Library and are - never resurfaced - up to two pieces that were found in the River Seine. Due to their small size, one finds the motif of the bee - next to the lily - often as a decoration on fabrics, on Friesen official buildings, on flags and coat of arms as well as in the heraldry of the newer nobility especially the Napoleonic era, where they - similar in shape and size - replaced the lily of the Bourbons.
This jeton relies on different aspects of the bee symbolism in its combination of image and legend. The motifs were often selected in the light of current events, which today often difficult - are to open up and served as a medium for propaganda - and sometimes only speculative.

Note: Joseph Roettiers, 1635 - 1703, Flemish origin, from 1694-1703 engraver at the Monnaie de Paris.
May be Feuardent 1966 (or 1965)