Tokens like these were issued by several merchants of the Danish West Indies. It had to do with the fact that the original official silver coins had a higher intrinsic value in silver than the nominal value that was stamped on it and thus hoarded and not used. The merchants experienced a shortage of these small value coins and found the above solution.

You can find some more info on the web at: http://www.gladsaxegymnasium.dk/2/soemod/dvisom3.htm