Act prohibiting the circulation of tokens, London, 17 June 1817

An Act to prevent the issuing and circulating of Pieces of Copper or other Metal, usually called Tokens. 57° Georgii Ill. Regis. Cap. XLVI, 27th June 1817.

WHEREAS various Pieces of Copper, and mixed Metals composed in part of Copper, usually denominated Tokens, have lately been and are issued and circulated, by Persons residing in various Parts of the United Kingdom, in great Quantities, as Money, and for a nominal Value of the Metals of which they are com-posed: And whereas it is expedient that the further making and issuing of such Tokens should be prohibited, and that the Circulation of those already made or issued should also be prohibited after a limited Period : May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this Act no Piece of Copper, or mixed Metal composed in part of Copper, of whatever value the same may be, shall be made or manufactured or originally issued as a Token for Money, or as purporting that the Bearer or Holder thereof is entitled to demand any Value denoted thereon, either by Letters, Words, Figures, Marks, or otherwise, whether such Value is to be paid or given in Money or Goods, or in any manner whatsoever; and every Person who shall, after the passing of this Act, make or manufacture or originally issue, or cause or procure to be made, manufactured, or originally issued, or permit or suffer to be so issued, on his or her Behalf, as for nominal Value in Money or Goods, any such Token, shall for every Token so made, manufactured, or issued, or procured or permitted to be so made, manufactured, or issued as aforesaid, forfeit any Sum not less than One Pound nor more than Five, at the Discretion of the Justice or Justices of the Peace who shall hear and determine such Offence.

II. And be it further enacted, That from and after the First Day of January One thousand eight hundred and eighteen, no Piece of Copper, or of any mixed Metal composed partly of Copper, of whatever Value the same may be, shall pass or circulate as a Token for Money, or as purporting that the Bearer or Holder thereof is entitled to demand any Value denoted thereon, either by Letters, Words, Figures, Marks, or other-wise, whether such Value is to be paid or given in Money or Goods or other Value, or in any manner what-soever; and every Person who shall, after the said First of January One thousand eight hundred and eighteen, circulate or pass, as for any nominal Value in Money or Goods, any such Token, shall for every such Token so circulated or passed, whether such Person shall be or have been concerned in the original Issuing or Circulation of any such Token, or only the Bearer or Holder thereof for the Time being, forfeit any Sum not less than Two Shillings nor more than Ten Shillings, at the Discretion of the Justice or Justices of the Peace who shall hear and determine such Offence; providing that nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to prevent any Person from presenting any such token for Payment to the original issuer thereof, or to discharge or excuse any such original Issuer from his Liability to pay the same : Provided always, that nothing in this Act contained shall be construed as affecting any Tokens which have been or may be issued by the Bank of England.