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Obverse Design
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Kelsey Type 1 design: two rectangles are side by side, not quite centered in the chit. The left
rectangle is about 30 mm wide, and the right rectangle is about 10 mm wide.
The rectangles are about 19 mm high. In the left rectangle, the top line
says "N.C.O. OPEN MESS". The next line is "FORT CLAYTON". The next line
says "CANAL ZONE". On the bottom left under these lines in small italic
letters in three lines it says "NOT GOOD", "IF", "DETACHED".
On the bottom right is the serial number; "8751G" in the example above.
The right rectangle has a smaller rectangle just inside it. It has a large
"5" filling up most of the rectangle. Underneath the denomination it says
"CENTS" in a block with reversed colors (the block is dark ink, and the letters
are the same color as the field of the chit).
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Reverse Design
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Blank.
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Color
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Red with black ink; serial number in brown ink.
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Material
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Light-weight cardboard.
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Size and Shape
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Rectangular, 51mm wide by approximately 23 mm high. Top edge is perforated,
bottom edge is usually perforated but may be straight.
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Dates Issued
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Probably between 1943 and 1963.
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Issurer
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Fort Clayton, on the Pacific side of Panama, to the west of the canal.
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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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Probably the Kelsey Coupon Company of Cincinatti, Ohio.
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Source
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Plumer's Catalog number: Clayton #5-R.
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Varieties
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There are a total of five known 5 Cent varieties in different colors, two in
Kelsey design type 1 and three in design type 2.
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Function
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Mess (cafeteria) chit.
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Notes
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For population count, known specimens are as follows:
- Plumer Specimen #8751G, pictured above.
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