World Tokens

St Lucia, Tickets and Checks, CASTRIES, Government, uniface rectangular copper Labour Ticket (authorised July 1831), stamped 71, 40 x 38mm, 17.32g (Lyall 475, this piece illustrated). Pierced as issued, surface somewhat dull, otherwise very fine and of the highest rarity; only one other specimen known
£100-150

Provenance: From a hoard of 150 pieces discovered at the offices of the newly established National Provident Fund, Castries, 1970, by Jim Jordan.

See R.J. Devaux, ‘A Century of Coaling in St Lucia, including a description of the Coaling Tokens’ (SNC February 1975, p.54) for specific details of the July 1831 legislation relating to these historical labour tickets, only issued to qualified labourers, free or slaves. Upon discovery of the hoard in 1970 authorisation was given for the tickets to be scrapped, but nos. 45 and 71 were saved