This page updated on 22 November 2014

MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATES
Donated by Dave Brouchoud

MPC front

MPC back

MPC front

Military payment certificates, or MPC, was a form of currency used to pay U.S. military personnel in certain foreign countries.
It was used in one area or another from a few months after the end of World War II until a few months after the end of U.S. participation
in the Vietnam War – from 1946 until 1973. MPC utilized layers of line lithography to create colorful banknotes that could be produced cheaply.
Fifteen series of MPCs were created. However, only 13 series were issued.
The remaining two were largely destroyed, although some examples remain. Among the 13 released series a total of 94 notes are recognized.

Thirteen series of MPC were issued between 1946 and 1973, with varied designs often compared to Monopoly money due to their colors.
After the official end of U.S. participation in the Vietnam War in early 1973, the only place where MPC remained in use was South Korea.
In autumn of 1973, a surprise conversion day was held there, retiring MPC and substituting greenbacks.
MPC was never again issued, and the concept lay dormant until the late 1990s,
when it was revived somewhat in the form of a Stored Value Card system, used by U.S. armed forces in Iraq.

Foreign money we used during our travels overseas
Mostly in the 1950s

Formosa front

Formosa back

Formosa front

Formosa back

Philippines front

Philippines back

Hong Kong front

Hong Kong back

The above scans provided by Vic Brelje. USS Helena CA-75. November 1954 - October 1957

The following donated by Dave Brouchoud

Philippines front

Philippines back

This scan is of 1 Yen I saved from a trip to Japan in the mid 1950s.
Note I have added the extra 1 Yen to each side. I do not want to be accused of counterfeiting. (The author)

Front

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