Token US Success in Love - Good Luck - Michigan Medallion

This is a modern good luck token with all sorts of shapes and symbols, sometimes called the Michigan Medallion. Value is a few US dollars as a novelty item. Numismatists (coin collectors) with experience in ancient and medieval coins know that this token was made using modern minting technology. The perfection of shape, the precision of the lettering, and the sharpness of the patterns indicate post-1900 manufacture.

The imagery on this piece is varied, intriguing, and somewhat connected to the black arts. The wishbone is a well-known symbol of good luck, and, entwined with a heart it is a sign of luck in love (which should not be left to luck, by the way!). The lettering, which is fantasy lettering, not a real language, the lion, and the god-like figure in the pyramid add mystery. The lion is clearly Iranian (see, for instance, this CoinQuest page) which brings Islam into the picture. The Buddha-style image adds Taoism and similar harmonized religious thought. Pyramids are well-known mystical symbols with various sources and backgrounds. With all this imagery, most any interpretation is possible.
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