Mereau Publique Deposited
Originally a moneyer's pass or token, which originated in France. At a later period it was used for the identification of members at council meetings, religious festivals, etc.
M. Blanchet, in his Numismatique du Moyen-age et Moderne, Paris, 1890, reproduces on the cover of the Atlas a moneyer's pass in silver of the mint of Lyons, bearing on the obverse a crowned bust of Francis II. The Paris Cabinet des Medailles preserves similar mereaux of the mints of Grenoble, Cremieu, Lyons, Avignon, and Trevoux. That of Avignon, which is the latest in date, was issued in the name and has the arms of Cardinal de Bourbon (Charles X), who was at the time Legate of the Holy See to the Comtat Venaissin.
The work of de Fauris de Saint-Vincens describes one of these silver passes, bearing the name of Louis XII, with the title of Comte de Provence, which has on reverse an initial A, evidently indicating the mint of Aix.
De Courtois Revue Numismatique, 1848, (p. 66) illustrates a mereau, of small module, issued by the moneyers of Tarascon.
- Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)