Protective amulet, consisting of nickel (?) medallion, called Billiken, with pixie on obverse, De Mortillet collection, French, 1908-1931

This token is from the Luna Park amusement park in Paris (open from1907/9 to 1931), as indicated by the inscription on the reverse – ‘Porte-Maillot’, an area of Paris. The inscription on the front reads: ‘Si tu me gardes je te porterai bonheur’ – ‘I smile at you bad luck can’t harm you.’

The pixie is a Billiken, known as ‘The God of Things As They Ought to Be’, and whilst the purchase of a Billiken was said to give the customer luck, being given one would afford even greater luck.