Obverse Design
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The design is based on five contiguous chits. There are lines most of the way
across the paper every five chits. Near the left edge of the paper is a
chit number which started at 1 and goes to 500. Near the right edge of the
paper is a chit number counting down from 500 to 1. To the inside of these
numbers are vertical lines which connect to the previously described horizontal
lines. Inside of the vertical lines on both sides are chits numbers which
start at 5 and go down to 1 (in every group of five chits).
In between the two "4"'s it says "GOLD EMPLOYEE". Below that in between the
two "2"'s it has the serial number; "613540" in the example above. Down the
middle of the chits are two thick blue lines.
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Reverse Design
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Blank.
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Color
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White with black ink; the serial number is in red ink, and there
are thick lines of blue ink down the middle as well.
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Material
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Paper.
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Size and Shape
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Rectangular, 70 mm wide by 5 mm high per chit, 25 mm high for the group of five.
No perforations.
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Dates Issued
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This example was issued March 29, 1945.
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Issurer
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Panama Canal Company, Supply Department Commissary. The commissaries served as
grocery stores and general department stores for Panama Canal employees.
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Mintage
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Unknown.
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Rarity
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Common.
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Manufacturer
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U.S. Government Printing Office.
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Source
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Plowman collection.
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Varieties
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This is the only known variety.
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Function
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Used to purchase commissary (grocery and general store) supplies. The clerk would
tear off as many chits as needed to pay for the shopping trip. See example of
a tear off below.
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Notes
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For population count, known specimens are as follows:
- Plowman Specimen #613540 strip of 53 attached to each other, five of which are
pictured above and three of which are pictured below.
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