History of Military Payment Certificates

Military Payment Certificates, were used in place of U.S. currency to prevent the devaluation of the currency and economy of the host or occupied country.

Called "MPC, Script, Funny Money" for short, actually started with United States Small Size Currency HAWAII brown seal and over stamp, and NORTH AFRICA yellow seal notes. HAWAII notes were created, after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the US Government feared an imminent invasion of the islands. They had the series 1935A $1 through $20 notes over stamped with HAWAII so that if/should the Japanese invade the islands, they couldn't counterfeit large sums of currency and devalue the economic status of the US.

The North Africa yellow seal notes, however, were specifically designed for soldiers serving on the continent of Africa during our involvement in World War II. These notes were brought over by soldiers for the purchasing of toiletries and personal supplies. The reason for the yellow seal, instead of the regular blue, was so that the Germans, upon capturing soldiers with the yellow seal notes, couldn't counterfeit large sums of money and devalue our economic status.

After the US was no longer considered to be "occupying" a country, our soldiers were stationed there to protect our interests. This is when Military Payment Certificates was created.

The first issue, Series 461, was issued on 16 September 1946 in Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Ryukyus, Scotland, Trieste, and Yugoslavia.

After a predetermined period of time, Series 461 was withdrawn from circulation on 10 March 1947 and replaced by Series 471 on the same day. These days were called "Conversion Days"or "C Days" for short. And on the these days, military personnel, traded in the current circulating issue for a freshly released issue. There were two purposes for this, 1) Counterfeiters not being able to mass produce the issue in circulation, and if they did, it wasn't good for very long and 2) Black Marketeers were not able to use a previous issue as change for merchandise. These issues were replaced on a frequent basis, but never with a exact span of time. Some issues were valid for 6 months, some a year, and anywhere in between. The Conversion days, which were top secret, made it so finance officers, and paymasters, were not told of the conversion until 2-3 days prior to the change, this for security reasons.

US MPC continued through the end of Vietnam with Series 692. There were 13 series issued and used in 22 different countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Libya, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Ryukyus, Scotland, Trieste, Vietnam and Yugoslavia, not in all countries at the same time however.

Military Payment Certificates Issued During the Vietnam War,

Series 641 Vietnam
Issued 31 August 1965 Withdrawn 21 Oct 1968

Series 661 Vietnam
Issued 21 Oct 1968 Withdrawn 11 Aug 1969

Series 681 Vietnam
Issued 11 Aug 69 Withdrawn 7 Oct 1970

Series 692 Vietnam
Issued 7 Oct 1970 Withdrawn ( Fractionals .05 .10 .25 .50 ) 1 Jun 1971, ( Dollars ) 15 Mar 1973