TAMA Iowa
Tama Paper Mills & Filler Company
10¢ March 1, 1901
Merchant scrip
5 1/2 X 2 3/4 inches
Issued in 1901, this five‑cent merchant scrip note from the Tama Paper Mills & Filler Company of Tama, Iowa reflects the localized economies that supported industrial communities at the turn of the 20th century. Payable in merchandise at any participating Tama merchant, the note functioned as a convenient internal credit system, allowing the company to settle small transactions without circulating federal coinage. Such scrip was commonly used by mills and factories to streamline payroll and local trade. Printed by the August Gast Bank Note Company of St. Louis, the piece features ornate borders and formal typography typical of privately issued commercial paper. Surviving examples offer insight into early industrial labor practices and community‑based commerce.