No, they are not bits of lead straight out of a 1900s dental office…

They are jacks! This little game, as old as our grandparents — or even our great-grandparents — entertained whole generations before the screen invasion.

Back then, there was no need for the latest console or a 15-hour battery to have fun.

A few jacks and a nimble hand were enough to throw, catch, and especially try to beat your friends in this skill game.

The rules were simple: toss one jack into the air and pick up others from the ground before catching the falling one. Easier said than done, especially with everyone laughing around you!

The original jacks were made from small animal bones, but over time, to avoid turning schoolyards into miniature butcher markets, metal versions like the ones you see in the photo appeared.

Today, when young people see these objects, they wonder if they haven’t stumbled upon failed medieval jewelry or strange pieces of Playmobil armor… Yet behind these little dented pieces of metal lie memories of victorious shouts, improvised contests in the streets, and long afternoons where boredom had no place.

So next time you come across these little treasures, remember: they’re not for treating your cavities, they’re for awakening your inner child!