This catalogue presents a major re-listing of the Welsh pub checks previously listed in 'Tavern Tokens in Wales' by Neil B. Todd, 1980 and 'The Pub Checks of Wales' by Yolanda Stanton (now Courtney), 1988. Over 400 new pieces have been added and it has been possible to modify and update much of the previous biographical data because of the greater availability of census data, the internet, trade directories and new books on local history.
Pub tokens, or checks as they are more commonly called, were issued by alehouses, beer houses, hotels, inns, taverns, beer retailers and wine and spirit merchants between the 1830s and the 1930s and were redeemable at the place of issue for alcaholic refreshment. They were usually struck in copper or brass showing the name of the establishment of issue, the publican's name and the monetary value - typically 1 penny halfpenny, 2d, 3d and 6d - reflecting the price of a pint or a quart of beer. Some checks refer to the playing of games - bagatelle, billiards and skittles - whilst others were purchased by and used by friendly societies as a form of 'wet' rent to gain admission to a music hall or a pleasure garden attached to the public house. They could also be given to employees as a wage bonus or allowance. It seems probable that the checks were used simply as a trade convenience, however not all pubs or landlords used them. Few minting records have survived and it is likely that unrecorded checks will continue to be found.
Wales is well represented in the pub check series and were issued in most parts of Principality. The greater number of checks is concentrated in the industrial counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire
The catalogue follows much the same order as previously, however checks have been given a new catalogue number with the original Todd and Stanton numbers retained for contiuity.
Readers who wish to gain a better understanding of the pub check series are encouraged to read 'Public House Tokens in England and Wales c.1830-c.1930' by Yolanda Courtney which gives a very thorough description of how pub checks were made, distributed and used.
