CEYLON: brass token, 1876, cf. Pridmore-62; Lowsley-8, Lee Hedges & Co. Demattagodde Mills, Colombo, LEE HEDGES & Co / 1876, tea plant, beaded outer border // DEMATTAGODDE / MILLS, floral ornament at center within a circular wreath of tea leaves, beaded outer border, EF. This token was struck of yellow brass, with the dies designed in England. The company, started in 1857 by W. D. Lee, admitted J. R. Hedges as partner in 1866. The value of the tokens issued in 1876 was 18 cents each, or about the pay of a day's work for a woman. The firm had two mills in Colombo. The earlier one was at Colpetty, a coffee and oil mill; the other was Demattagodde Coffee Mills employing about 400 hands in Dean's Road, Maradana. In 1880 Demattagodde Mills was closed after the partnership was dissolved and J.R. Hedges left Ceylon in 1880. The property in 1895 was called Vavasseur & Co.'s Mills.
Estimate: 75-100 USD