These are US military payment certificates. They were used by US military personnel overseas to segregate the US dollar from the local economy and curb blackmarketing. value of those two notes in that condition is a buck or two each.
Five series were used during combat time. Four were used in Vietnam (641, 661, 681 and 692) and one in Korea (481). All the other series (461, 471, 472, 521, 541, 591, 611, 651) were issued in areas without combat operations.
I was too young to buy beer with them. My dad was career Army, and was stationed in Paris in 1957 to 1960 during which the European command decided to get rid of the MPCs in use in Germany and France. The latter purple one was representative of what was in use then, but I imagine that one of the links referred to above might offer precise dates when this occurred. I've mentioned before that dealers in the Stamp Market were eager to give me good deals on stamps that interested me when I had both American coins and Greenbacks to use. This would indicate to me that the switch to actual U.S. currency came shortly after our arrival in France.
While I was in VN they switched MPCs. We had a limited time to exchange what we had before it was worthless. One guy I knew had a bunch stashed when he was assigned off base. When he came back his MPC was trash and he was pissed. It was probably gotten through black market cigarettes anyhow.
I saved some when I was in Korea and Vietnam, I also have some others I picked up along the way from WW II era.
Wow!! Y’all are old!!! Lol. Just kidding! I think it interesting.. so if you brought them back to the us where you able to exchange for us money ?
Full disclosure: U.S. Air Force 1965-1969 (no deployments); not an MPC collector per se; However, these are Vietnam era issues and I do search for bargains regardless of type or series. ===== and this one was purchased raw from dealer's bargain box for $1 ===
Great pick up ! a dollar raw is a good deal especially in 67, but you have to figure all your costs involved, fees plus postage, the best way to get something like this graded is at show, if your lucky to have one In your area that is My favorite set is probably the 681 followed closely by the 661 both Vietnam issues favor the 681 because it is the only issue to depict actual military service, ita a mind blower why there wasent more here,s a few of mine all number 1,S at PCGS, i have been collecting 20 years plus so i have build up a very high quality set.