Not at Token
As a token collector you will sooner or later come across these "tokens" ...
These are Weights which Pharmaceutical Chemists (Pharmacists) used exclusively until the late 1960's.
They seem to have arrived on the scene rather suddenly towards the end of the 17th Century. As this was the time when the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries was nearing its period of greatest influence, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the Society was responsible for these and the next few sets up to 1113. It should be remembered that for much of the 18th Century, the Society held the contract to supply medicinals to the Army and to the Admiralty and this would have included scales, weights, bandages and all the other necessary items as well as medications.
It is also interesting to note that these weights did not really seem to replace anything very specific but suddenly appeared and their use seems to have become quite widespread very quickly.
It also seems that these weights, though the symbols became a little more standardised, were almost the only ones available for the next 100 or so years until the advent of the commercial Scale Companies in the early 19th Century.
If these type of items/weights/tokens interest you more then here is a wonderful page all dedicated to these ...
More info on the weight in the above pictures ..
Lozenge or Octagonal Types:
1250Avery 1850 Lozenge TypeBrass – Die-Struck – 19th & 20th Centuries – Post 1850
Front:Lion standing on a Crown in Centre with Registration Symbols on either side. “STANDARD” curved around top with “W.& T.A.” below.
All in a beaded border - Reverse:Apothecary Symbol in center with Number above and Unit below – both in words.
All in a beaded border Spelling:Drams
Notes:Half Dram has no Lion.
One Scruple has neither Lion nor Crown and only one Registration Mark. Half Dram is also found as One & Half Scruples.
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