Restaurant and tavern tokens served as substitute means of payment in numerous drinking establishments of major cities in pre-revolutionary Russia. Coin-like tokens were an attribute of everyday life in the restaurants, taverns, cafes, canteens, and snack bars of both the capitals and the provinces. The issuance of tokens was connected with the desire of factory owners, plant owners, and operators of various enterprises to increase their profits. Workers and employees received part of their wages in tokens and spent them in shops owned by the companies. Restaurant and tavern tokens appeared in Russia in 1875 and became widespread in large industrial cities. The so-called tavern checks performed a purely administrative, accounting function. They were intended for internal settlement between the establishment’s staff and the cashier. Having turned into a fashion trend and a sign of wealth and prestige among restaurant proprietors, tavern checks became firmly embedded in Russian everyday life and spread everywhere. Similar tokens were issued by restaurants, clubs, snack bars, taverns, cafes, and other drinking establishments.
Tavern token 1 Kopeck.
