100 Yen US Military Currency - A-Note

Allied Military Currency for Japan was printed in the United States and issued following the August 1945 surrender, giving occupation forces a parallel currency that could be controlled independently of the existing Japanese monetary system. The "A" prefix series — hence the collector designation "A-Note" — was introduced specifically to counter black market abuse, particularly the problem of servicemen converting military scrip into yen and remitting the proceeds home at favorable rates.

The A-Note designation comes from the series letter printed on the note, not a separate classification imposed later. When abuse continued despite the currency change, authorities eventually prohibited Japanese nationals from holding these notes altogether.