Catalog
1 Cent - Safeway Stores
| Issuer | Safeway Stores |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | 107 × 72 mm |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | ONE CENT 1¢ 1¢ FOOD STAMP CREDIT Redeemable Only By Participant of U.S. Govt. Food Stamp Program for Food Items on Authorized List... at any-- SAFEWAY STORES IN COUNTIES PARTICIPATING IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM |
| Reverse description | The reverse is unprinted, showing only the plain pale green textured paper stock with a fine overall embossed pattern. A faint bleed-through impression of the obverse text is faintly visible near the lower centre. |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
Safeway Stores issued scrip across various U.S. regions during the Great Depression as a practical workaround for the chronic small-coin shortage that paralyzed retail commerce in the early 1930s. Federal coin production had not kept pace with demand, and merchants — particularly grocery chains operating high-volume, low-margin transactions — found themselves unable to make correct change. Scrip of this type circulated internally, redeemable only at issuing locations, which also served as an informal customer retention mechanism.
Attribution for individual Safeway scrip pieces is complicated by the chain's decentralized regional structure at the time.