Tally

a stick once in general use for keeping accounts. Debts were indicated by notches cut clear across the stick. The stick was then split in two, one-half being given to the debtor, the other retained by the creditor. If either debtor or creditor attempted to tamper with his half of the tally, the other half would show that changes had been made. Additional debts were recorded by placing the two halves of the stick together and cutting new notches extending across both. Good sized notches were used to indicate different amounts. A notch for pound 100 was as wide as one's thumb; for one pound as wide as a barleycorn; a smaller scratch indicated a penny. Tallies of this sort were actually used by the exchequer of England. As late as 1812 the English government issued tallies to those who loaned it money. The name of the loaner was written on each half of the tally. The use of the tally was clear even to those unable to read and write.