Old Sails. Plus Ultra Nuremberg Ship Jetton

Many ship jettons have sailed out of Nuremberg.

This is one of the last ones to leave port.

The legend is a familiar one, especially if you collect or know of Spanish Colonial coins. The words -- PLUS ULTRA -- translate to read "more beyond." It became an official motto of Phillip II of Spain during the years of conquest in the Americas. Hence, the motto made an early appearance on the first silver coins minted at the Mexican mint in 1536.

This PLUS ULTRA jetton with sun, moon & stars obverse
dates to about 1800. It does not have mint masters name
or initials on the piece. Can anyone attribute it further?

The phrase "more beyond" is a play on words taken from a medieval map (I am not sure which one) that depicted the western shores of Europe with the great ocean stretching out to the edge. The words -- NON PLVS VLTRA -- were written upon the water suggesting that no lands were located across the ocean.

Of course, Columbus -- and several others before him -- discovered this was not true. In fact, two continents were found. And, they were full of peoples. As such, Phillip II's motto claimed these lands for Spain. The "more beyond" was his.

Consequently, the mint masters in Nuremberg saw this as a pithy motto to place on ship jettons. Great marketing!

This jetton depicts an imposing war ship. The ship sits high among the white caps with several gun decks.

This thin, broad piece has been holed and is wavy. It was nailed or worn at one time. The strength of the details with its brown patina, slightly granular at the edges, imparts a bold look. It is quite attractive -- moreso than a new and shiny one.

One can only wonder where this ship has traveled in the past 300 or so years. I'm sure this jetton was in a junk bin for a while, but before that ... perhaps it was an heirloom or bedside piece. Either way, it conjured up images of the great ships leaving for the New World -- then and now.