Pub Token - The
Red Lion Caerleon - Wm. Jones proprietor - 3d
Back
in the 19th century many pubs gave tokens instead of coins for change.
This was supposedly because there was a shortage of small change.
Of course it ensured that the 'change' was spent in that establishment
and nowhere else!
This
brass token is approximately 26mm in diameter - a fraction larger
than a modern two pence piece.
Our
online directory of
Caerleon for 1862 shows that William Jones was then the landlord
of "The Red Lion" Back Hall Street.
See also a 17th century farthing token issued by William Meredith a mercer of Caerleon.
