Restaurant and tavern tokens served as surrogate means of payment in the numerous drinking establishments of major cities in pre-revolutionary Russia. Coin-like tokens were an attribute of everyday life in metropolitan and provincial restaurants, taverns, cafes, canteens, and buffet bars. The issuance of tokens was linked to the desire of owners of factories, plants, and other 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 marks performed a purely service and accounting function. They were intended for internal settlement between the establishment’s staff and the cashier’s desk. Having turned into a fashion trend and a sign of prosperity and prestige for restaurant owners, tavern marks became firmly embedded in Russian everyday life and spread everywhere. Such tokens were issued by restaurants, clubs, buffet bars, taverns, cafes, and other drinking establishments.
Tavern token 1 Kopeck (oval).
Grigory Chuev.
