1 Cent - Food Stamp Scrip J and B Certified

Food stamp scrip of this type was issued by individual grocers and food retailers during the Great Depression era as a practical workaround — USDA food stamps could not always be broken into change, so merchants issued their own fractional scrip redeemable against future purchases. J & B Certified was one of dozens of Chicago grocery operations that printed their own denominations rather than lose the penny-rounding difference on every transaction.

The security underprint is notable for scrip of this class — most small retailers skipped it entirely. Suggests either a printer's upsell or a proprietor who had already dealt with counterfeiting problems.