The co-operative movement was based on the concept that profits were returned to the members in the form of a dividend, calculated as a proportion of each pound spent. ​Even for a small society, the system required tokens in substantial quantities, and the cheapest and easiest method of production used a single die in a hand press stamping thin blanks of tinned iron. But what was cheap to produce was also easy to counterfeit, and soon better tokens in brass or bronze were being produced.

The Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (RACS) was a consumer co-operative based in south east London taking its name from the royal munitions works (Royal Arsenal) in Woolwich. Initially established in 1868 as the Royal Arsenal Supply Association by 20 workers from the Royal Arsenal, the society renamed itself Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society in 1872. In the century that followed, the society's activities expanded from food retail into a huge range of commercial, social & political activities. Membership rose to 500,000 and sales exceeded £60 million. Yet by 1985 its commercial problems were such that it merged into the national Co-operative Wholesale Society.

Offered here is a collection of twelve different Royal Arsenal tokens.  [jet] [ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.