United States · MPC · Vietnam
$10 · Series 641
Face with a woman’s profile to the right; back with the head of the Statue of Liberty. Position 44. Serial J15149964J.
Catalog facts
- Pick reference
- P#M63 · Schwan 887
- Serial number
- J15149964J
- Signatures
- No signatures (military issue; the use legend stands in place of a signer)
- Condition
- Unslabbed (private collection)
- Printage
- 20,400,000 notes are cited for the Series 641 $10
Face
Back
The note
The Series 641 $10 (Pick M63, Schwan 887) is the high denomination of the first series used only in Vietnam. The sepia face with red overprints carries a woman’s portrait in a medallion — a Marcus Baldwin engraving taken from the allegory on the 1896 $2 Educational Series — and 10s in all four corners. “SERIES 641” appears twice; 44 is the sheet position number. The back shows Liberty’s head, engraved by Richard M. Bower, with TEN in red at both sides. The legend restricts use to military establishments and authorized personnel. This collection piece, unslabbed, is serial J15149964J.
Scarcity and printage
The ANA calls Series 641 one of the most common in the program. 20,400,000 notes are cited for this $10; the series’ total face value exceeded $283 million. Fractionals are easier; the Series 641 $10 remains affordable in mid grades.
Population
A PMG or PCGS census for this serial has not been independently verified. The note is shown in original, unslabbed condition.
Sources
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Art-Hanoi — MPC Series 641 (P-M57 to P-M63)
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The $10 is P-M63 / Schwan 887: woman’s portrait on the face and Liberty on the back.
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World Banknotes & Coins — Series 641 $10 MPC
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Cites 20,400,000 notes; Baldwin face engraving and Bower back.
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American Numismatic Association — Military Payment Certificates
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Issue and withdrawal dates for Series 641, 661, 681, and 692; Series 651 outside Vietnam; Series 692 fractionals withdrawn 1 June 1971.
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CoinWeek — Money of Necessity: U.S. Military Payment Certificates
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1946 origin, C-Day, offset versus intaglio, planchettes, the Boston printers, and the BEP from Series 611.
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Bank Note Museum — United States, Military Payment Certificates (M1–M106)
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Schwan/Pick numbering for Series 641 (M57–M63), 661 (M64–M71), 681 (M75–M82), and 692 (M91–M98).
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Bureau of Engraving and Printing — Military Payment Certificates (fact sheet)
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Places Series 641, 661, 681, and 692 in Vietnam; Series 651 in Japan, Libya, and South Korea.
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720th Military Police Battalion — MPC history
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Timeline of the Vietnam series and the split withdrawal of Series 692 (fractionals / dollars).