Birmingham Workhouse Token 1813 Three Pence
Name/Title
Birmingham Workhouse Token 1813 Three PenceEntry/Object ID
2025.1.58Description
A Birmingham Workhouse Token 1813, value 3 pence (240 pence to the pound in those days, so 80 of these tokens was worth a pond (See obverse below)Context
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 money.Category
Coins, Tokens and Medals or Awards