Depression scrip was used during the depression era (1930's) as a substitute for government issued currency.  Because of the banks closing temporarily and the lack of physical currency, someone had to come up with another form of currency to keep the economy going and a way for trade to continue.  Therefore the old idea of  local currency was reborn.  Paper, cardboard, wood, metal tokens, leather, clam shells and even parchment made from fish skin was used.  At one point, the U.S. Government considered issuing a nation wide scrip on a temporary basis...

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