Restaurant and tavern tokens served as surrogate means of payment in numerous drinking establishments in the major cities of pre-revolutionary Russia. Coin-shaped tokens were an attribute of everyday life in metropolitan and provincial restaurants, taverns, cafes, canteens, and snack bars. The issuance of tokens was linked to the desire of factory owners, plant operators, and other enterprises to increase their profits. Workers and employees received part of their wages in tokens and redeemed them for goods in shops owned by the companies. Restaurant and tavern tokens appeared in Russia in 1875 and became widespread in large industrial cities. So-called tavern marks performed a purely official, accounting function. They were intended for internal settlement between restaurant staff and the cashier. Tavern marks, having become a fashion trend and a sign of wealth and prestige for restaurant owners, became firmly embedded in Russian everyday life and gained universal distribution. Similar tokens were issued by restaurants, clubs, snack bars, taverns, cafes, and other drinking establishments.
Tavern token 1 Kopeck.
