1 Cent - Safeway Stores Denver, Colorado

Safeway's Denver Division issued paper scrip in small denominations — including fractional cents — as a practical workaround during the coin shortage that plagued U.S. retailers in the early 1930s Depression years. Whether this particular piece dates to that period or to the distinct wartime coin shortages of 1942–1943 depends on the series markings, as Safeway stores in several regions issued scrip during both disruptions.

Denver-division issues are less frequently documented than those from Safeway's California operations, making clean attribution to a specific issue date difficult without the series letter or control number.