1845 AD., England, London, Token, R. Wiseman.

Great Britain, England, London, Token, 1845 AD.,
Æ Token (28 mm / 6,84 g),
Obv.: R. WISEMAN LICENSED VICTUALLER / LONDON / 1 1/2 .
Rev.: PRO BONO PUBLICO / 1845 , barrel.
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Some shops, pubs and factory owners issued tokens to pay guests or their own workers which could only be redeemed in the factory shop or a local store. This practice was perfectly legal until it was stopped by the Truck Act of 1844. However, most of these trade tokens were issued because of the recurring shortages of official small change. The motto pro bono publico, was widely used on these tokens across the country in an attempt to demonstrate to the government that the motivation for issue was one of public benefit rather than base profit.