go? 
greed of their issuers were generally inferior both as to quality 
and weight ; some tradesmen refused to redeem their own issues, 
others became bankrupt, and for commercial purposes the Tokens 
became insecure as vouchers, and the public becoming alarmed 
clamoured for their suppression. An influential petition praying 
for the suppression of the Copper Tokens, on the ground that in 
general they were not of half their nominal value, was presented 
to the House of Commons on the 25th of April, 1817, and on 
the 27th of July following, an Act was passed prohibiting the 
making of such Tokens, under a penalty of not less than #1 or 
more than #5. ‘And it was further enacted that from and 
after January 1st, 1818, Tokens should no longer pass or circulate 
on pain of forfeiting for each piece not less than 2s. or more than 
tos.” ‘ But, nothing in the Act was to prevent any Person from 
presenting such Token for payment to the original issuer, or to 
discharge such original issuer from his liability to pay the same.” 
The attempts of the City Authorities Bankers and Tradesmen 
to cope with the difficulties caused by the scarcity of change, 
after the suppression of the Tokens, the rioting that took place in 
Bath in this connection, and the supply to the City of the much 
needed new Silver coin in 1817, do not come within the scope 
of the present paper, but in conclusion, I may point out that 
although the Local Silver Tokens were suppressed in 1814, those 
issued by the Bank of England remained in circulation till an Act 
passed on July 11th, 1817, enacted that after March 25th, 1818, 
they should no longer circulate, but that they would be accepted 
at the issuing Bank until March 25th, 1820; a short Act of 
March roth, 1818, however, extended their circulation until 
April, 1819. The Herald of March 28th, 1818, contains the 
following interesting communication :— 
“BANK TOKENS. The following circular addressed to all 
Postmasters has been received at the Post Office in this City :— 
“General Post Office, 21st March, 1818. 
I am commanded to inform you, that by the provisions of an 
