1 Cent - Food Stamp Scrip Lincoln Supermarket

Food stamp scrip of this kind emerged from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Stamp Plan, first launched in 1939 and revived in modified form in 1961. Participating retailers issued small-denomination paper change scrip because federal food stamp coupons could not legally be given back as cash change — leaving a fractional balance problem that supermarkets solved with their own printed chits. Lincoln Supermarket's 1-cent piece is a direct product of that regulatory gap.

These scrips were redeemable only at the issuing store, which made them a minor but effective tool for customer retention.