Birmingham Workhouse Token 1811
Name/Title
Birmingham Workhouse Token 1811Entry/Object ID
2025.1.59Description
A Birmingham Workhouse Token, 1811, value one pennyContext
Workhouse tokens were a way of paying the poor souls who ended up in the workhouse when they were destitute, as there was a shortage of coins in the country. They were specially minted coins given to the poor to spend in local shops, the shop took the tokens to the workhouse, who gave the shopkeeper real moneyCategory
Coins, Tokens and Medals or Awards