Méreau (plural: ''méreaux''; obsolete spelling: ''merel, merelles, marelles, mereaulx'') was a token, most often made of metal but sometimes leather or parchment, used in France during the Late Middle Ages and Reformation.
Its name goes back to la, merere, "to deserve". Méreaux emerged in churches as tokens that entitled clergy to receive certain amount of bread or other food in substantial amounts (part of which was supposed to be later distributed among the poor). In the 15th century there were méreaux of high denominations: 5, 20, 30 and 45
deniers, and priests could exchange them for real coins.
Méreaux are similar to
Notgeld by their function. Later on méreaux came into use by medieval
guilds and professional corporations until their decline at the end of the 18th century. After abolition of the
Edict of Nantes,
Calvinists
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...
provided méreaux to their members traveling to other Calvinist communities to distinguish them from Catholic spies. Méreaux entitled their bearers to a
Holy Communion
The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instituted ...
and should be collected by the priest serving the Communion.
Collecting méreaux is called ''merellophilia''.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mereau (token)
Medieval currencies
Huguenot history in France
Economic history of France