Michigan Cities Printed Their Own Money During the Depression

It's likely difficult to imagine a time when giving someone paper money to make a purchase would have not been accepted. But that is exactly what once happened across American during the Great Depression. Imagine today if a store refused your greenbacks or wouldn't take your credit card.

It's all based on the faith we place in our money. If you think a $20 bill is worth $20 and your neighbor agrees and your grocer agrees and your bank agrees, than that woven sheet of paper is indeed worth $20.

👇🏼BELOW: Examples of Michigan Depression-Era Money + Every Amtrak Station in Michigan👇🏼

But what happens if people began to lose faith in the value of money? When this happened during the Great Depression, many cities turned to printing their own currency notes or scrip.

A website that tracks all of these forms of notes gives the basic definition:

Depression scrip was used during the depression era of the 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.

There are several examples from around Michigan and many are sold on eBay with a search for Depression Scrip - that's how we found these.

Most often it was a city government that issued the notes, but always. Across Michigan there are examples of counties and school districts backing these bills.

Some of these notes very closely resemble real money while others look colorfully like Monopoly money.

DepressionScrip.com has a full listing of known Michigan notes here and see some that have been displayed on eBay below.

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Michigan Cities Printed Their Own Money During the Great Depression - This is What It Looked Like

What happens if people began to lose faith in the value of money? When this happened during the Great Depression, many cities turned to printing their own currency notes or scrip. Here's what some of these notes looked like from cities across Michigan.

Depression Scrip eBay Links

This is Every Amtrak Station in Michigan

Amtrak is America's national rail travel network. There are three lines that serve the state and serve as Amtrak's 'Michigan Service.' Those lines, the Wolverine, Blue Water and Pere Marquette, serve 22 different stations across the state.

Note - the images below are stock images and not indicative of any induvial station.

Gallery Credit: Eric Meier

Filed Under: Eric Evergreen, money

Categories: Michigan News