Help with ID on Belgian Item (1 of 2) [решено]

Hi:

I was in Brussels this last summer and picked up a few things.  There are two things I've not had success with identifying and this post is to address one of them.  I've searched high and low, but as this is outside of what I normally pursue, I haven't had much of any success figuring out what it is.

I believe it is cast.

19.43 grams
36.5 mm
Obverse Text:  DUS R. D^US JOANNE DEGRAVE 1783

Reverse Text:  PAROIS SE. DE COUDENBERG

At this point, I don't believe it was a monetary unit of any type, and its commemorating something about Joannes DeGrave in 1783.  I know it's probably tied to something with the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels.

Does anyone have any information on what this is supposed to be, or could point me in any direction that is worth examining further?

Best,
Mike

 A coin weight, this suggests > 

Hi Zac:

That's quite interesting.  I'm assuming you used an AI tool to gather that info, which model did you use?

Best,
Mike

 Corrected> 

Obverse Text:  DUS R. DUS JOANNES DEGRAVE 1783

Reverse Text:  PAROIS SE. DE COUDENBERG 

 [Not JOANNE/ Not DEGREAVE] 

Thanks, Zac.  Looks like I didn't have enough coffee this morning.  I'll amend the post to fix the spelling.

mike2112!

Hi Zac:

 

That's quite interesting.  I'm assuming you used an AI tool to gather that info, which model did you use?

Best,
Mike

 Though it did not quite get the lettering correct. 

I thought coin weights had numbers on, usually. 

Still looking.

Having looked around, I have doubts that it was intended to be used as a weight.  It's weight doesn't seem to match the Guinea series or any that I can really find (though I'm not too familiar with European coins), I'm not sure how a coins at 19.43 grams (or even 20) would be utilized to weigh against coin that was typically 8.4 grams, but I'm also not that familiar with coin weights in general.

 Still wondering … 

is that PAROIS more like PA. ROIS as there may be a dot there 

what language is it all in - maybe French or a French-speaking country, 

 such as Belgium. See link below 

the repeated DUS lettering is abbreviation for what … 

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_et_armorial_des_personnes_admises_aux_Lignages_de_Bruxelles 

Hi Zac:

I think it's French or a dialect of French, perhaps Walloon?  I don't see a dot after the PA in PAROIS, however, that's not to say with 100% certainty that there isn't one, it just that specific spot is facing some corrosion.  If it were there, it would be smaller than the others.  However, it could also be that one side in Dutch/Flemish, while the other is in French/Walloon.  

Because of the Coudenberg Palace, I do think it's from Belgium.  The second DUS is D^US and I'm unsure as to why its written that way.   

Paroisse is parish. The SE under PAROIS is probably part of the word 

The church Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg in Brussels is part of the “Royal Parish”, and at the same time the main church of the Belgian Armed Forces.

No idea who Joannes Degrave might be. Quite common name unfortunately.

Could be a baptism token, something that existed for a long time as a souvenir of a baptism. Can't figure out what DUS R. DUS stands for. Probably some Latin abbreviation.

 That's what I was thinking - baptism / communion/ wedding and so on. 

Or someone who helped with the 1783 Coudenberg rebuilding. 

DEUS / DECUS / DECIMUS / DIVUS / DOMUS / DOMINUS and so on … 

All makes sense.  Paroisse de Coundenberg either for the (ecclesiastic) parish, or for the area around Coundenberg.

Jean DeGrave or Jan DeGrave … who knows.

Interesting piece.

The one place that can probably ID it is Jean Elsen in Brussels since it's in their back yard.  They are usually pretty helpful.  https://elsen.be/ ;

I'll reach out to Jean Elsen and see what they have to say.  

Appreciate everyone weighing in on this.  I agree and am think it's a commemorative piece celebrating some event.  We'll see what Jean Elsen has to say.  

Best,
Mike

Well, the Jean Elsen idea worked!  I got a response this morning from Olivier Elsen:

"It is a token for the Funeral of priester (DUS = Dominus) Joannes Degrave of the Paroisse (= Church) of Coudenberg in Brussels.

Sincerely,

Olivier Elsen"

So that solves it!  I've never heard of a funeral token and I certainly know nothing of a Joannes Degrave, but I'm happy to have least been able to classify this.  Thanks to everyone for their assistance with this, I appreciate the input.

Best,
Mike

I have had an acquaintance with Olivier Elsen (who now runs the business) for 25 years and always found him willing to take the time to be helpful and supportive.  Glad you got your answer!

Thanks for suggesting I reach out to him, I wouldn't have otherwise!