Glass Bottom Tankards

Tankards have been made with glass bottoms for many years, going back to the 18th century when a shilling was the earnest payment to recruits of the British Army and Royal Navy. Accepting the shilling meant that you were agreeing to serve as a sailor or soldier.

One of the tricks to recruiters used was to drop a shilling into a man's pint and when the man finished his drink, he found out he had unwittingly accepted the offer to enlist.

Glass bottom tankards were introduced so a man could lift up his pint and look from the bottom to see if there was anything hiding and spot any coins which had been dropped in.