Manoli was one of Berlin's most prominent cigarette manufacturers in the early twentieth century, operating a substantial factory canteen — Kantine — that issued its own token coinage for internal use. These zinc pieces circulated exclusively within the facility, redeemable for food, drink, or small goods at the canteen counter, keeping petty cash transactions off the general payroll ledger.
Zinc was the pragmatic choice for industrial tokens of this type, cheap and easily struck in small runs by local die shops.
Manoli was one of Berlin's most prominent cigarette manufacturers in the early twentieth century, operating a substantial factory canteen — Kantine — that issued its own token coinage for internal use. These zinc pieces circulated exclusively within the facility, redeemable for food, drink, or small goods at the canteen counter, keeping petty cash transactions off the general payroll ledger.
Zinc was the pragmatic choice for industrial tokens of this type, cheap and easily struck in small runs by local die shops.