Pulp, SASS#28319 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 What exactly is this? I'm guessing it was kind of like "mill money" that big companies used to pay their employees with, and was only good at the company store. I'm going through old totes of my mom's and came across this. Pretty art work, even it it's worthless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Scrip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 US personnel were prohibited from using American currency in Vietnam. You turned in your greenbacks and received the MPC in exchange. This was to prevent US dollars from entering the black market. The MPC could not be used on the local economy. You had to have Vietnamese currency, commonly called Piasters for the pre war French system, but actually called Dong in the Vietnamese banking system. No coins were used with MPC, only the scrip in 5cents and above denominations. PITA to have a bunch of bills in 5-10 cents value. The bills would be changed every few years to a different type and you had to exchange them again. This rendered the black market MPC in the hands of locals useless. imagine if you had to go turn in your greenbacks for different ones every few years! In Occupied Japan after the war we used the same type system. Some people collect them but they’re not worth much. I have a handful somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Now I'm curious..... WHO's picture is on that 5-cent bill? ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulp, SASS#28319 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 Thanks UB. I’d reckon this was from Japan when we lived there ‘53-54. Dad was an MP. But it could be Vietnam, as my brother was there in ‘68-69. Like Widder said, wonder who the woman is? Sure enough easy on the eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 I think they just used generic images on the bills. I remember when we change to a new series in 69-70 there were no cute chicks on them. A sub, an astronaut, some jets, a pilot etc. Boring. https://www.moneyfactory.gov/images/FactSheet_MilitaryPaymentCertificates_20140123.pdfhttp://militarypaycertificate.blogspot.com/p/vietnam-era-mpcs.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Thanks UB. I’d reckon this was from Japan when we lived there ‘53-54. Dad was an MP. But it could be Vietnam, as my brother was there in ‘68-69. Like Widder said, wonder who the woman is? Sure enough easy on the eyes. The 641 series was only used in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 In trying to figure who the Lady is on that bill I found some interesting history that might be of help. https://coinweek.com/paper-money-2/military-payment-certificates/ The bill you have is from the Military Payment Certificate series 641 http://www.antiquemoney.com/military-payment-certificate-values/series-641-military-payment-certificate-value/ http://www.antiquemoney.com/military-payment-certificate-values/series-641-military-payment-certificate-value/value-of-series-641-5-cent-military-payment-certificate/ More info: https://art-hanoi.com/collection/vnpaper/641.html https://www.govmint.com/1965-1968-vietnam-series-25-cents-641-mpc-currency-note-circulated I did not find out who the woman is in the portrait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Howdy Pat. I Goggled it and found a lot of info about those pay certificates. Like you, I couldn't find any info on the picture. Maybe it was General Westmoreland's house keeper..... ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 I still have some "Occupation Currency" from WW II that my dad gave me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulp, SASS#28319 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 Thanks to everyone. I suppose my brother did send it home, as opposed to when we were in Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 @Pat Riot, SASS #13748 and @Widder, SASS #59054, https://www.govmint.com/1965-1968-vietnam-series-641-mpc-5-currency-note-circulated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 @Pat Riot, SASS #13748 and @Widder, SASS #59054, https://www.govmint.com/1965-1968-vietnam-series-641-mpc-5-currency-note-circulated Oh, Laura....That explains it. Laura, yeah, I know Laura...Laura...What's her last name?...I forget.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 I remember laura, she was at the USO at China Beach in 71. Kinky Imis This is all made up...or not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdgun Quail, SASS #63663 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 When I (U.S. Army) was stationed in S. Korea in 1972, we also used MPC. Our MPC was changed about every six months. The color of the bills would be changed, i.e., blue to red or green to blue, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Lots of different ladies portraits over the years. The History of Military Payment Certificates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 We hired a new Vietnamese house keeper and the first day I left some "Monopoly money" on the night stand. When I got back that evening I found my skivvies, socks, and about $15.00 all neatly ironed and stacked on that same nightstand. Just for fun my roomie left a small an mount of cash and a letter from his daughter (or wife?) and got the same results. The agency that we used to hire the ladies told them to iron everything and they took it as a requirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 A year or two ago, a friend sent me a pair of jungle boots I needed for display. He said they had been sitting around for decades in a closet and wouldn’t take any payment. I sent him $25 in MPC. He thought it was hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted December 31, 2019 Share Posted December 31, 2019 A year or two ago, a friend sent me a pair of jungle boots I needed for display. He said they had been sitting around for decades in a closet and wouldn’t take any payment. I sent him $25 in MPC. He thought it was hilarious. And he was right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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