JETON DE MAISON DE TOLÉRANCE Brass, circular shape, with "Une nuit d'enfer" stamped on the obverse. 19th century. Diameter: 2.5 cm. Some brothel tokens have an advertising function, but this one, which shows no establishment name or address, was intended to limit financial transactions between customers and residents that could lead to concealment or error. The customer would buy a token from the manageress to pay the guest. Similar tokens, known as spintria, already existed in Roman antiquity and would have been used to pay admission to public brothels following Tiberius' ban on the introduction of coins bearing the emperor's effigy into these places of debauchery.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.