Tokens 1_18

1. Jennifer Blain permalink

   March 26, 2022

   If these few tokens come from so many pubs, it suggests to me that they might have been widespread across the whole of London. Maybe there was a shortage of ‘small change’ in the 17th century – these token have dates from the times of Charles I, the Commonwealth and Charles II.

   When I was in Italy in the 1960s before decimalisation, there was constant inflation. Besides using large piles of Lira notes in huge denominations for every transaction there were far too few coins issued. Shops would give out a couple of boiled sweets or a little handwritten note instead.

   I just wonder if these locally issued tokens are an example of some similar wider financial problem? They would, of course, encourage the drinker to return to the same pub to get his next drink at a bargain price.

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