Tokens, Pit or Colliery Checks also known as:-

Checks Tallies Motties Pins Tickets Passes

An amendment to the Coal Mines Act of 1911, created in 1913, made the use of checking systems in British mines mandatory.

Most of the early checking systems used one token per collier. This token was often referred to as a lamp check/token. At the start of the shift the collier would give his token to the lamp room attendant in exchange for his safety lamp which bore the same identification number. At the end of his shift he would retrieve his check from a tally board in the lamp room or alternatively directly from the lamp room attendant in exchange for the safe return of his lamp.

Many mines also used additional pay checks/tokens for identification purposes for workers collecting wages.

Tokens were made from brass, zinc or aluminium although there are some examples of plastic/bakelite and leather. Most had hand stamped identification numbers in the centre and came in a variety of shapes including circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal.

For a lot more information visit the National Mining Memorabilia Association