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5 Cents Rupert; PoW Camp
| Issuer | Prisoner of War Camp Canteen, Rupert, Idaho |
|---|---|
| Year | 1943-1946 |
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| Currency | Dollar (1785-date) |
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| Obverse description | Blue letterpress print on cream paper, divided into two panels within a rectangular border. The left panel carries the camp inscription in bold serif capitals above a red serial number. The right panel contains the numeral '5' over 'CENTS' within a shield-shaped frame, with the caveat 'NOT GOOD IF DETACHED' below. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | PRISONER OF WAR CAMP CANTEEN RUPERT, IDAHO 5 CENTS NOT GOOD IF DETACHED |
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| Comments |
American prisoner of war camps during World War II operated internal canteen systems that required a means of exchange completely segregated from U.S. currency — federal regulations prohibited POWs from holding American money, partly to prevent escape financing. Rupert, Idaho housed a camp primarily holding German and Italian agricultural laborers assigned to work the surrounding farmland under the Geneva Convention's provisions for enlisted POW labor.
These scrip issues were produced locally, not by any federal printing authority. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing had no involvement. Individual camp commanders had considerable discretion over the physical form of their scrip, which is why surviving examples vary so dramatically in production quality from camp to camp.
The 5-cent denomination reflects canteen pricing of the period — cigarettes, soap, and razor blades were the primary goods.