A recent addition to my modest collection is this One Stiver token which was issued by a Mr. Balgarnie, a liquor and dry goods merchant in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana)in 1838.
The token being of 'pure copper and preferable to paper' refers to the local government paper money which the government would not recall and which had little or no value.
It is 33mm in diameter and weighs approx. 14.5g. You wouldn't want to carry too many of these around in your pocket!
Coins with the motto 'PURE COPPER PREFERABLE TO PAPER' were also issued in England at the same time. I had a couple, but recently sold them. Also look out for 'FOR CHANGE NOT FRAUD' and (if you go back another couple of hundred years) 'FOR YE POORES BENEFIT'.
If you want to try something which really would weigh you down, have a look at the Birmingham Workhouse 3d which was issued and circulated. Its 3 times the weight of the regular 1d token, which s similar in size to this. They also issed a copper 6d, but it was never sent to circulation.
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