Token, brass (2), Malabar coast, Bombay, Mangalore, R. Dawson & Co., Obv: Frontiersman standing with rifle and axe, within wreath, (Pr# 339), minor obverse staining, Rev: undated, name. Very fine, very rare. F. Pridmore in ‘The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Part 4, Volume 1’. Has illustrated the larger token (No. 339. Page 179). He has, however, not elaborated the token but has made reference that in the Malabar Coast quote:-“Factories were on the western coast in the 17th century but the supply of specially minted or individually marked coins for local use,” unquote. (page 139). The two tokens (the larger one meant for supervisors or maistries and the smaller one for workers) were issued at the end of the shift to the concerned and represent a day’s wage. They could be redeemed for currency at any time. However, due to shortage of coinage, they were freely used as ‘currency’ in the local bazaars as the merchants accepted them since they knew the wage rates. It was more often that the merchants redeemed them with the company than the workers. These tokens were in use during the early part of 1900s. These tokens are very rare to find. The fact that Pridmore has catalogued them make them unique.