Miner's token

3D Model

Miners carried a number into the mine each day. As each tub was filled at the face by a miner, or more usually a pair of men working together, a token was hung on the tub so that when it was weighed at surface the amount could be ascribed to that particular number. When the men were paid, at the end of the week, or fortnight in earlier days, the amount per ton accrued to each number was paid out to that number. A pair of miners then divided the money between themselves.

In the days of hand jumper drilling an experienced miner could expect to produce between 4 and 5 tons per shift for which rates could vary from one shilling to perhaps 1/10d per ton. 6 shifts producing, say, 27 tons, at 1/6d per ton produces £2 0s 6d (around £250 in today’s money) from which would be deducted costs of gunpowder, sick club, union subs etc. In later and more recent years additional tokens were introduced to keep track of who was underground at any one time.