Obverse Design
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Book cover has a large rectangle with a double line border. Within the
rectangle in the upper left corner in small letters it says "FORM X-130".
In the upper right corner it says "No." and has the serial number;
"197160Y" in the example above. Curving over the center banners is the title
says "COMMISSARY COUPON BOOK".
The center has an elaborate banner decorated with fleur-de-lis, little boxes,
lines and horns, etc. The banner says "ISTHMIAN CANAL COMMISSION". Coming up
above this line in a design similar to a tree is a reverse color area where
in smaller letters it says "ISSUED BY".
Below the center banner is the title "PANAMA RAIL ROAD CO.". In the lower
left corner is a small reverse color banner which reads "THIS BOOK IS NOT
TRANSFERABLE". In small print under this banner are three lines which
read
"MUST BE USED WITHIN SIXTY DAYS FROM DATE",
"OF ISSUE AND WILL NOT BE HONORED UNLESS" and
"ISSUED BY AUTHORIZED PARTY."
In the bottom right corner is a box which says "$15.00", and is decorated with
some leaf designs to the right and to the left. Over the center of the box is
a decorated curved banner in reverse colors which says "VALUE".
The left edge has the black material used to bind this coupon book.
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Reverse Design
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The back cover was mostly blank, with just the manufacturer's logo centered
in the cover (see image below). The logo has a reverse color inner circle.
In the center of this circle is a small "C" which is inside a
larger "C" with an even larger "A" on top of them. There is a small "O"
at the mouth of the "C"'s. Around the inner circle is an outer circle, and in
the small in between is the legend
". ALLISON COUPON CO ." along the top and
"INDIANAPOLIS, U.S.A" along the bottom.
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Other Details
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This book had five chits on each page. The only known denomination is 1 cent.
Since the book has a value of $15.00, there must have also been other higher
denomination chits in this book when issued.
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Color
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Green with black ink; the serial number is in red ink except the letter "Y".
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Material
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Light-weight cardboard.
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Size and Shape
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Rectangular, approximately 128mm wide by 69 mm high.
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Dates Issued
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1912.
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Issurer
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Panama Railroad Company. The PRR was owned by the United States Government and
was selected to operate commissaries to feed all the PRR and Panama Canal workers.
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Mintage
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Unknown.
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Rarity
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Very Rare.
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Manufacturer
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Allison Coupon Co. of Indianapolis, U.S.A.
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Source
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Plowman collection.
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Varieties
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There are two known very different book varieties for the two known series. The
chits however appear to use the identical design.
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Function
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Book of chits used to purchase commissary (grocery and general store) supplies.
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Notes
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For population count, known specimens are as follows:
- Plowman Specimen #197160Y, pictured above.
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