Military Payment Certificates are demonstrative of the means devised to assist economic control. In this case the motivation was to minimise as much as possible the allure of the 'greenback' to economies in stress, such as during or after war.

Military Payment Certificates (MPCs) were produced to pay United States personnel serving overseas. They were designed to keep United States dollars off the black market, but in reality MPCs were also spent off base and circulated in the local economy. To combat the effect of this in possibly undermining confidence in the local currency of a reviving economy, the designs (or 'series') of MPCs were frequently changed overnight on 'conversion day', with very little notice. This strategy was designed to undermine civilian confidence in MPCs and prevent their stockpiling to the potential disadvantage of the local economy. Such radical change to the design every year or two would not have been possible if conventional US money had been paid to serving US personnel.

Paul Donnelly
Curator, history of design and society
January 2008

refs:
Standard Catalog of World Paper Money - Seventh Edition, volume 2, General issues, 1994
Fred Schwan, Military Payment Certificates, 1997
http://www.geocities.com/military_payment_certificates/index.htm
http://art-hanoi.com/collection/vnpaper/mpc.html

The notes were printed in the United States of America. Each series featured a new design in an effort to dissuade locals from using them, which would have undermined confidence in the local currency.

The short production runs and period of use were very specific as seen in the selection featured in this acquisition:
481 Produced and strictly only used between 20 June 1951 to 25 May 1954 (Pick M22)
641 Produced and strictly only used between 31 August 1965 to 21 October 1968 (Pick M57-M62)
681 Produced and strictly only used between 11 August 1968 to 7 October 1970 (Pick M75)

These Military Payment Certificates were intended for use in Vietnam, Korea and Indo-China.

The donor of these notes was prompted to give them to the Powerhouse Museum by virtue of his relationship to Major H.P. (Pat) Boland, numismatic curator (and later consultant) at this Museum from 1961 to 2006.

Military scrip (5), military payment certificates, from print series 481, 641, 681, paper, maker unknown, United States of America, for use in Vietnam / Korea / Indo-China, 1951-1970

Five military payment certificates, three of five cent value, one of ten cent value and one of 25 cents value. All feature distinctive designs and are rectangular in shape. They are from different print series runs.

Five cent paper note printed on both sides. The design on the front features a female figure in classical costume holding a globe and leaning on books, printed in grey, orange and blue. The reverse design features a central US eagle emblem with floral patterning around, printed in blue and dark pink. From print series 481. Marked with text on front and back;
Front: 'MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATE / FIVE CENTS ____ / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS / D12342087D / FIVE CENTS / SERIES 481 / 5 CENTS'.
Back: MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATE / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS'.

Ten cent paper note printed on both sides. The design on the front features a portrait of a female figure on the left side of the note, printed in green and red. The reverse design features a wing spread eagle alighting on a faggot, printed in green and pink. From print series 641. Marked with text on front and back;
Front: 'MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATE / TEN 4 / SERIES 641 / J00025600J / CENTS / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS'.
Back: '10 TEN CENTS / 10¢ / 10¢ / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS'.

Five cent paper note printed on both sides. The design on the front features a portrait of a female figure on the left side of the note, printed in purple and blue. The reverse design features a wing spread eagle alighting on a faggot, printed in purple and blue. From print series 481. Marked with text on front and back;
Front: 'MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATE / FIVE 52 / SERIES 641 / J15195416J / CENTS / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS'.
Back: '5 FIVE CENTS / 5¢ / 5¢ / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS'.

25 cent paper note printed on both sides. The design on the front features a portrait of a female figure on the left side of the note, printed in red and green. The reverse design features a wing spread eagle alighting on a faggot, printed in green and red. From print series 641. Marked with text on front and back;
Front: 'MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATE / TWENTY-FIVE 73 / SERIES 641 / J04608109J / CENTS / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS'.
Back: '25 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS / 25¢ / 25¢ / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS'.

Five cent paper note printed on both sides. The design on the front features a submarine floating on the ocean, printed in green and blue. The design on the reverse features an astronaut in space with a planet as a background, printed in green and blue. From print series 681. Marked with text on front and back;
Front: 'MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATE / C07281729C / FIVE CENTS / 71 / SERIES 681 / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS' .
Back: 'MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATE / FOR USE ONLY IN UNITED STATES MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS BY UNITED STATES AUTHORISED PERSONNEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS'.

Made: United States of America; 1951 - 1970

Used: Vietnam; 1951 - 1970

Used: Korea; 1951 - 1970

2008/65/1

1951 - 1970

53 mm

108 mm