Scanned Image of a Black and White Photocopy

Obverse Design Legend curved along the top: "PANAMA & CANAL ZONE". Legend curved along the botton: "AUTOMOBILE CLUB". Center oval has "AAA" logo of three stylized "A"'s where the middle "A" is larger than the side "A"'s and partially overlaps them. Blue background overall.
Reverse Design All lines go straight across. First line "IF FOUND", second line "PLEASE DROP IN MAILBOX". Third line in smaller size "POSTAGE IS GUARANTEED". Fourth line is number 1432 (the id number). Fifth line is "PANAMA & C.Z. AUTO CLUB". Sixth line is "BOX L DIABLO HEIGHTS". Last line is "C.Z.". Blue background overall.
Metal Aluminum Size and Shape Oval 21 mm high (not counting the loop) and 32 mm wide at the widest point. Loop at the top, 5 mm high and 5 mm wide.
Dates Issued Unknown. Probably 1930's or after.
Issurer AAA Automobile Club of the Canal Zone and Panama. Please e-mail me if you know more about this issurer.
Numbers Issued Pieces in collector hands include #1432 and #1630.
Rarity Very Rare. Manufacturer Unknown. Source Plumer Collection.
Varieties None known.
Function

It appears that these miscellaneous checks were meant to be attached to the key chain of auto club members. If lost, the finder could drop them in a post office box, and the AAA Automobile Club could check the id number against their records, and deliver them to the club member who had lost their keys. That way the address of the automobile owner did not appear on the key chain, which would make for a very easy automobile theft.

I would appreciate e-mail from anyone who can add anything to the history of this piece.

Population Count Known specimens are as follows:
  1. Check #1432 - Sold on ebay to Warren Lloyd Plumer for about $8.00 (pictured above).
  2. Check #1630 - Offered for sale on ebay by 'tokenswede' (Mike Miller) on February 24, 2002 for $24.99. It went unsold.

Automobile Traffic in the Canal Zone
Automobile Traffic in the Canal Zone
From the Canal Zone Review, Fall 1973 Edition (photo not dated)