4 Zichron Ya'akov Tokens, 3 of Them Rare, Made of Paper – Issued by Baron Edmond de Rothschild – 1883-1885

A. Three paper tokens, Zichron Ya'akov.
The three paper tokens were used by the peasants of Zichron Ya'akov. The peasants received part of their wages as tokens made of thick paper issued by Baron Rothschild and used them to pay for the products they bought in his shops. These shops were run by three widows, whom the Baron had saved from banishment from the country and had given them the means to earn a living.
Printed on the three is the inscription: "Zicron Jacob", a serial number and a signature (by hand). Two bear (partial) ink stamps: "[V]a'ad hamoshav---", "moshava Zichron Ya'akov"
Size: 3.2X3 cm, 3.2X3 cm, 3X4 cm.
Condition: Stains, creases and wear.
These paper tokens are extremely rare. Additional copies are unknown to us.
B. Brass token.
The brass token is part of a rare group of tokens called the "Zichron Ya'akov Tokens". It was minted in Paris in spring 1885, three years after the foundation of Zichron Ya'akov. The Baron Rothschild initiated the issuance of these tokens as money substitutes for the people of Zichron Ya'akov who wanted to buy products in Haifa, Jaffa and the Arab villages in the area rather than in the shops of the Moshava. Since the Baron's paper tokens were not honored outside of the Moshava, the buyers needed small change, which was constantly lacking during the Ottoman rule. The Baron Rothschild thus decided to issue coins of his own. The brass tokens were minted in Paris; on one of their sides the words "Zichron Jacob" were impressed and on the other, the denomination of 1/4, 1/2 and 1. The Baron vouched for the tokens and linked the value of the token to the value of a small Turkish coin called "Metlik". The Zichron Ya'akov tokens affected the status of the Moshava as an independent economic territory with its own coins. The Ottoman rule, however, vetoed their use and confiscated all of them. Therefore, only few dozens of hidden tokens remained.
Obverse: "Zichron Jacob" and denomination. Reverse: "זכרון יעקב".
Diameter: 25 mm.
Condition: Good.
Rare!
The four tokens were attached to a letter (included) from 1924, sent by Mr. H.G. Lauft to Mr. Heyman in Jerusalem, shedding light on their nature. According to the letter, their origin is in the wine cellars of Zichron Ya’akov, when the Moshavot were directly managed by Baron Rothschild (before he transferred their management to the J.C.A. Company)
Baron Edmond Benjamin James de Rothschild (1845-1934) was a French member of the Rothschild banking family, a philanthropist and Zionist, a strong supporter of the Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel during the first Aliyah.
The first settlements, Rishon Le'Zion, Rosh Pinah, Zichron Ya'akov, Yesod Ha'Ma'ala and Petach Tikvah among them, experienced great financial difficulties. After being asked by various bodies in Israel and around the word, Baron Rothschild agreed to support the Moshavot by means of the supervision of his administrators.
Baron Rothschild was involved in the life of the Moshava Zichron Ya'akov since 1883. Among his many enterprises there, he opened a winery, the second in size in the Land of Israel. In 1900, the management of the Moshava was transferred to the J.C.A. Company (A Jewish settlement company); yet in practice, it was continued to me managed and funded by the Baron.