Token - Wanganui Cosmopolitan Club 4D Club Check

Listed in the John Bertrand New Zealand Coin & Banknote Catalogue - W7

the date on the Checks relate to the date of issue.

The checks were only used instead of cash for a short period of time before being withdrawn. 

Six club checks in the series and two life membership fobs (silver and gold)

W7 - One Shilling - Die I - ‘C’ of ‘COSMOPOLITAN’ Level with ‘S’ of SHILLING'

W7a - One Shilling - Die II - ‘C’ of ‘COSMOPOLITAN’ higher than ‘S’ of SHILLING'

W7b - 6D - Die I -  ‘L’ level in ‘COSMOPOLITAN’ 

W7b.1 - 6D - Die II - Thin and High ‘L’ in ‘COSMOPOLITAN’

W7c - 4D 

W7d - 3D

NEW ZEALAND NUMISMATIC JOURNAL Vol. 15 No. 1 (58) June, 1979. D. R. Kidd

Wanganui Cosmopolitan Club Tokens: These Special Purpose tokens were introduced on the 1st September, 1905, as a means of controlling cash transactions at the Club liquor and tobacco bar. During the previous few months a special finance subcommittee had thoroughly investigated the financial position especially the bar receipts which were not up to expectations. The committee recommended that a coupon register of payment system be instituted.

The four examples in the series are among the most attractively designed tokens issued in New ZeaIand. All are 24.25mm (slightly larger than the size of the present 10 cent coin).

(a) Obverse: Maori bust to left, taiaha over right shoulder. WANGANUI 1905 around.

Reverse: COSMOPOLITAN CLUB ONE SHILLING (white metal). The centre portion of the reverse tends

to be a weak strike on many of the shillings.

(b) Obverse and reverse as above, but value 6d in large figures. (metal : light bronze)

(c) Obverse and reverse as above but value 4d in large figures. (metal : dark bronze)

(d) Obverse and reverse as above but value 3d in large figures. (metal : brass)

A member of the Club's General Committee was appointed to control the issue of tokens to the custodian (manager). Club members purchased quantities of tokens from the custodian in 5/- and 10/- lots. These were then used in payment for liquor and tobacco so that the bar staff weren't handling any actual cash.

The 1/- token purchased a double "head" (ie. approximately 4 nips) of brandy, gin or whisky. It could also be exchanged for a schooner of Speight's very potent beer brought from Dunedin. The 6d token purchased a single "head" of spirits, a glass of wine or 15oz of beer. The 4d token bought a 10oz beer while the 3d token was exchanged for a 7 oz beer and for any smaller purchases.

The token system eventually proved clumsy and unworkable mainly because too many members were cashing in their unused tokens after spending only a small amount, instead of carrying the tokens about with them until the next time they visited the Club. Accordingly, the token system was abolished as from lst July, 1907 and replaced by five cash registers.