Bidspirit auction | Palestine - Templar Colonies Tokens

Palestine - Templar Colonies Tokens - 10 Para 1880-1917 - Third Series - NGC MS 62 - Very Rare in Both Grade and Availability - Haffner CC-13C - Struck in zinc. Very few examples of this token type are known, and in such a high state of preservation it is especially rare. The Templers were German Protestants who separated from their church under the leadership of Christoph Hoffmann. They came to the Holy Land seeking to live according to Biblical traditions. In 1868 they settled in Haifa, Jaffa and Jerusalem, where they established farms, schools and churches, and became active in trade and industry. To address the chronic shortage of small change, the main financial organization of the Templers in Jerusalem issued tokens that circulated between 1880-1917. These tokens circulated in Jaffa, Haifa and Jerusalem, and were denominated in Paras corresponding to Ottoman currency. Following World War I, most surviving pieces were withdrawn and sold for scrap metal. Obverse: ”CENTRALCASSE DES TEMPLES” inscription surrounding plow design within decorated inner border. Reverse: ”CONSUMMARKE” inscription surrounding denomination ”10” in center.