Restaurant and tavern tokens served as surrogate means of payment in numerous drinking establishments of major cities in pre-revolutionary Russia. Coin-like tokens were a feature of everyday life in metropolitan and provincial restaurants, taverns, cafes, canteens, and buffets. The issue of tokens was connected with the desire of owners of factories, plants, and 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 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 affluence and prestige among restaurant owners, tavern marks became firmly embedded in everyday Russian life and spread everywhere. Such tokens were issued by restaurants, clubs, buffets, taverns, cafes, and other drinking establishments.
Tavern token 1 Kopeck.
