During WW II the US government issued fractional cent coins (tokens?) made of some dense composite material. Two kinds – one red, one green. As a little kid I liked them because of their pretty colors.

I can’t remember their denominations; maybe 1/5¢ and 1/10¢?

And maybe issued by a state government rather than the US government, for sales tax? (I lived in Missouri.)

I expected to easily find info about them on the web, but haven’t scored even a single hit. Looking for help!

I also vaguely remember a thinner plastic token, too, but not sure of that.

Updated link in below post

During the depression some cities and a few states issued fractional cent tokens for sales taxes. They may have been still in use during the war. They were not issued by the federal.gov. So only used in local transactions. Because then as today paying a penny when you only owe 1/10 cent in tax is some BS. But most folks today don’t sweat 9/10 of a cent. But back then it added up when a few pennies could actually buy you something.

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
During the depression some cities and a few states issued fractional cent tokens for sales taxes. They may have been still in use during the war. They were not issued by the federal.gov. So only used in local transactions. Because then as today paying a penny when you only owe 1/10 cent in tax is some BS. But most folks today don’t sweat 9/10 of a cent. But back then it added up when a few pennies could actually buy you something.

Like this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_tax_token

There you go. If the OP grew up in Missouri then as the wiki link suggests that in MO they were used until the late 40’s. he would remember these still in use as a child. Sorry for being a coin and history geek. There was also fractional currency put out by the US gov in the past. But that another story.

quote:

Originally posted by triggertreat:

Like this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_tax_token

Thanks guys! SigForum is an awesome resource.

I had a collection of Missouri mills when I was a kid. I always found them interesting. 3 denominations, IIRC.

I remember such tokens. They were called "mils" because they were 1/1000 of a Dollar. Most if not all states now round up sales taxes to the penny, so mils aren't needed any more.

flashguy

Had no idea about these.

I did find a few silver coins once. One of them was for 3¢.

quote:

Originally posted by ElToro:
There you go. If the OP grew up in Missouri then as the wiki link suggests that in MO they were used until the late 40’s. he would remember these still in use as a child. Sorry for being a coin and history geek. There was also fractional currency put out by the US gov in the past. But that another story.

I remember them in Missouri and we moved back to New England in 1965 when I was 11 so definitely around in the late fifties if not the early sixties, too. I seem to recall red and green ones.

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
I did find a few silver coins once. One of them was for 3¢.

Well, that's mighty queer.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
I did find a few silver coins once. One of them was for 3¢.

Well, that's mighty queer.

George Kennedy, in the movie The Eiger Sanction -- "He looks like he could change a nine-dollar bill in threes."

From what I was told, the 3¢ coin was made to buy a 3¢ stamp. They also had a $3 coin for buying 100 stamps.

When the price of postage was lowered, they started making 2¢ coins and a $2 coin (as well as a two dollar bill).

The 20¢ coin came later.

I remember 3¢ stamps but not a 3¢ coin. I think we usually bought blocks of 25 stamps for 75¢.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
Had no idea about these.

I did find a few silver coins once. One of them was for 3¢.

I didn’t know of US 3¢ coins. But here’s one for sale on Amazon. A very appealing coin.

1865 Nickel 3-Cent Piece
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007...XREQ4EJEQ16PEJFEVHJM