It might surprise you to know that even into the 1940’s, some American coal miners weren’t paid in cash or with a paycheck. They worked for flickers, clackers, lightweights and bingles. They were a form of currency generally known as coal scrip. Coal Scrip Scrip was a private currency issued by a coal company that was generally good only a businesses owned by the coal company like the company store. It allowed the coal company to make an additional profit supplying needed household goods and food to their workers. Other businesses might accept the currency, but if they did, they did so at a discounted value. This eventually led to many states requiring that the coal mining scrip be accepted at its face value. “It was extremely rare to find in Maryland to begin with because the state Read more…