Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jwt708, post: 2017156, member: 32619&quot;]Military trade tokens have their origins in the civil war era, where certain merchants, called sutlers, would follow around a unit and sell things to them that the Army didn&#039;t provide. With the coin shortage of the times, these sutlers would make change with tokens that were good for a certain dollar amount of goods, sort of like a gift card today. From what I can tell, sutlers would take advantage of the soldiers and would overcharge for items because they were the only ones around the soldiers could buy things from. The Army&#039;s answer was the Post Exchange...but I&#039;m beginning to digress here.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The trade tokens were used to make change and depending on the base, issued in denominations including .05, .10, .25, .30, .50, $1, and $5. The most common shape is circular but hexagonal, octagonal, triangular, square, and a few other odd shapes were used. The tokens have been made out of various materials including aluminum, nickel, brass, plastic, copper, I think there may be some wood also. Generally they&#039;ll read something like OFFUT AIR FORCE BASE / NCO OPEN MESS on the obverse and GOOD FOR / $1.00 / IN TRADE on the reverse.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There were other forms of military coins and currency all being used at the same time. The previously mentioned military payment certificates were used specifically overseas in an effort to spare the local economies and reduce black market activities and were issued in denominations ranging from .05, .10, .25, .50, $1, $5, $10, $20. Also, going back to WWI and lasting (from what I can tell) into Vietnam were payment chits. These were issued in a booklet and could be used for goods and services around base.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in