1930's City of Charleston Depression Scrip Note

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

During the Great Depression, the answer was often “no,” even from local governments! Money was so scarce, in fact, that local governments like the City of Charleston were forced to pay employees using scrip – a type of “emergency currency” that served as an IOU. Emergency is the right word – crisis is also an effective description.

That’s because during the Depression many banks temporarily closed and there was a lack of real currency. In order to keep the sagging economy going, local currency was born. The forms of this currency include such diverse material as paper, cardboard, wood, metal, tokens, leather and clam shells. In fact, during the height of the Great depression, Congress even considered a temporary nation-wide system of scrip. The idea was quickly scuttled by the Treasury Department leaving it to local governments to fend for themselves.

Finding these local scrip notes today is no easy task, but we’ve managed to locate a cache of authentic, lightly circulated City of Charleston scrip notes complete with cancellation marks, signatures and dates. You can secure one for your collection now accompanied by a storycard. Denominations vary, but the historical importance of these notes do not!

• UNIQUE ARTIFACT FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION – Widespread money shortages led many cities and municipalities to issue scrip paper currency to help fuel their local economies. This is an actual piece of history from that era – a testament to the “make-do” attitude that helped America get through the Great Depression.

• SIMPLE DESIGN SPEAKS VOLUMES – Each 1930s City of Charleston Depression Scrip Note reflects the era and it hails from. The front references the city of origin, Charleston, South Carolina. The back is blank. These notes display a cancelation mark, signature and date. Denomination and dates vary.

• NICE LIGHTLY CIRCULATED CONDITION – This 1930s City of Charleston Depression Scrip Note comes in Lightly Circulated condition, a truly remarkable grade for a specimen like this. Most of these notes saw heavy circulation and were soon worn out and destroyed leaving few for today’s collectors.

• COMES WITH INFORMATIVE STORYCARD – Your 1930s City of Charleston Depression Scrip Note comes beautifully displayed in a protective sleeve and accompanied by an informative storycard/certificate of authenticity.

Get an actual piece of Great Depression history with this 1930s City of Charleston Depression Scrip Note. Most artifacts like this were worn out and destroyed 80 years ago, but you can get one now in Lightly Circulated condition! Click it to your cart today!