What is military payment certificate?

Military Payment Certificates (MPC) were a form of currency used by the U.S. military from 1946 to 1973. They were used as a medium of exchange for U.S. military personnel and their dependents stationed overseas, as well as in certain combat zones.

MPC was issued in denominations ranging from 5 cents to 10 dollars and featured distinctive designs to prevent counterfeiting. They were not legal tender in the United States, but were only meant to be used by military personnel in designated locations.

MPC was eventually phased out in the early 1970s as U.S. military bases around the world began to transition to using local currency or U.S. dollars. Today, MPCs are considered collectors’ items and can be found in the hands of numismatists and historians interested in military currency.