military payment certificates (historical)

E4776

Military payment certificates were special U.S. military currency used overseas to pay American service members while helping prevent black-market activity and currency arbitrage.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf military currency
paper money
circulationArea military commissaries
overseas U.S. military installations
post exchanges
collectibleStatus numismatic collectible
countryOfOrigin United States
denominations fractions of a dollar
whole‑dollar denominations
denominationType dollar‑denominated currency
designFeature distinctive colors for different denominations
series identifiers printed on notes
discontinued 1973
economicEffect limited the impact of U.S. military spending on local currency markets
exchangePolicy redeemable for U.S. dollars only by authorized personnel
subject to mandatory conversion during C‑days
firstIssued 1946
form banknote‑style certificates
introducedAfter World War II
issuer United States Department of Defense
United States Department of the Treasury
lastSeriesIssued Series 692
legalTenderStatus legal tender only within designated U.S. military payment certificate areas
not legal tender in the United States
managedBy U.S. military finance offices
material paper
mediumOfExchangeIn U.S. military bases overseas
prohibitedUse not to be possessed by local civilian populations
purpose control the flow of U.S. dollars in overseas military areas
pay U.S. military personnel stationed overseas
prevent currency arbitrage
reduce black‑market activity
regulatingAuthority U.S. Department of Defense
relatedTo Allied Military Currency
U.S. military scrip
replacedBy U.S. dollars in cash
riskMitigation reduced risk of theft of U.S. dollars on bases
securityFeature colorful designs to deter counterfeiting
frequent series changes
limited circulation zones
sudden conversion days known as C‑days
status obsolete currency
timePeriod mid‑20th century
usedBy U.S. service members
United States Armed Forces
usedDuring Cold War era
Korean War
Vietnam War
userRestriction intended for use only by U.S. military personnel and authorized civilians

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
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