What is Allied Military Currency (AMC)?

Paper money issued by the allied powers during WWII. Troops used this currency in liberated or occupied countries. They are now considered obsolete. These notes are common, with rarer specimens going for thousands of dollars.

When America joined WWII efforts in 1941, they shipped more than forces to the U.S. They also introduced Allied Military Currency (AMC) in collaboration with the major allied powers. This was an effort to minimize any economic impact of flooding tanking European economies with the much stronger U.S. dollar, which could lead to mass inflation in cities that were already facing the negative impacts of war. AMC was also a means of curbing currency stockpiling. Since the dollar was had a high-value rate at the time of WWII, stockpiling, was a real concern for Allied forces. Enemy government could, in essence, hold onto dollars to prop up their regimes and gain control of more dollars to use in the U.S. or in other economies. All of which could encourage the emergence of black market racketeering.

Allied Military Currency, printed by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, was paid out to allied soldiers to use within occupied areas ruled by Allied friendly commanders and local officials. These notes were made to be clearly discernable from the local currency but were often in similar denominations.

Allied Military Currency came in five types:

• German Marks, in Germany.

 

• Austrian Schillings, in Austria.

 

• French Francs, in France.

 

• Italian Lira, in Italy.

 

Japanese Yen, in Japan.

For a short period, AMC was also issued in Korea, Denmark, and Austria due to black market activity. AMC was last used as payment in 1946, but many Allied soldiers brought back these notes as momentos to the U.S after the war was over.

 

See Also…

Notaphily, Military Payment Certificate (MPC)

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