Lichfield District Council
Token - Sheffield Workhouse Token - Sheffield, Early 19th Century (Obverse) (34mm dia)
Location: Lichfield District Council
Accession No: 1983.36.61
A brass token, issued by Sheffield Workhouse in the early 19th Century.
Tokens such as these were issued during the early 1800s due to a national shortage of low denomination coins. This particular token was produced by Sheffield Workhouse and issued to its inmates. Inmates could then use these tokens in lieu of genuine currency in local shops. Local traders could then exchange the tokens for cash with the Workhouse authorities.
Although alleviating the problem of limited coinage, the tokens effectively trapped inmates into the workhouse system. Their tokens would be worthless outside of the local area and only valuable within shops that had a prior arrangement with the workhouse itself.
The token is heavily worn, with much of the token's original detailing now lost. However, on the token's obverse a picture of Sheffield Workhouse is visible. The remnants of a legend around the image is just visible, this legend would originally have read: "OVERSEERS OF THE POOR" followed by the date of the token's issue.
The reverse is heavily worn with only the vague outline of a figure visible. This figure would originally have been the figure of Justice, holding a set of scales and accompanied by the wording: "SHEFFIELD PENNY TOKEN".
Token - Sheffield Workhouse Token - Sheffield, Early 19th Century (Obverse) (34mm dia)
Location: Lichfield District Council
Accession No: 1983.36.61
A brass token, issued by Sheffield Workhouse in the early 19th Century.
Tokens such as these were issued during the early 1800s due to a national shortage of low denomination coins. This particular token was produced by Sheffield Workhouse and issued to its inmates. Inmates could then use these tokens in lieu of genuine currency in local shops. Local traders could then exchange the tokens for cash with the Workhouse authorities.
Although alleviating the problem of limited coinage, the tokens effectively trapped inmates into the workhouse system. Their tokens would be worthless outside of the local area and only valuable within shops that had a prior arrangement with the workhouse itself.
The token is heavily worn, with much of the token's original detailing now lost. However, on the token's obverse a picture of Sheffield Workhouse is visible. The remnants of a legend around the image is just visible, this legend would originally have read: "OVERSEERS OF THE POOR" followed by the date of the token's issue.
The reverse is heavily worn with only the vague outline of a figure visible. This figure would originally have been the figure of Justice, holding a set of scales and accompanied by the wording: "SHEFFIELD PENNY TOKEN".