Sand dollar, Valchromat ®, velvet, plexiglass, aluminum, ink, screws, 2015-2020
Depression scrips were used during the depression era of the 1930's as a substitute for government issued currency. Because of the banks closing temporarily and the lack of physical currency, someone had to come up with another form of currency to keep the economy going and a way for trade to continue. Therefore the old idea of local currency was reborn. Paper, cardboard, wood, metal tokens, leather, clam shells and even parchment made from fish skin was used.
The original intent of using scrip was to provide a temporary supplement to scarce official currency. But the permanent use of a locally issued and controlled exchange medium, such as scrip, has clear advantages for insulating local economies from the distorting effects of global finance and banking.