Authentic Vintage WWII OPA Red Ration Token ~Proudly Sold and Shipped From the United States~ Description Authentic Vintage WWII Office of Price Administration Ration Token in a protective sleeve Rationing was first started in 1942. Items that were rationed include canned goods, meats, sugar, coffee, tires, gas and more. The Office of Price Administration used OPA stamps, coins and chits for rationing. OPA coins (commonly called OPAs) were used for change for food. OPAs were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. Blue tokens were used for processed foods; red tokens for meats and fats. OPAs were first issued in 1944 and stopped being issued in 1945. Nobody has found a true reason for the letters on the OPA's. Theories include, they are random; demographics; and prevention of counterfitting. Red letter combinations known: HC, HT, MV, MM, TH, TY, UC, UH, UT, UV, UX, UY, VC, VH, VT, VU, VX, VY, XC, XH, XT, XU, XV, XY, YC, YH, YT, YU, YV, YX. Blue letter combinations known: CC, CH, CT, CV, CX, HH, HU, HV, HX, HY, TC, TT, TU, TV, TX, UU, VV, WC, WH, WT, WU, WW, XX, YY. The rarest is the red MV. The next rarest are the red MM and the blue WW, WC, WH. Then blue WU, HX and red YC, XC. The rest are fairly easy to find. Reds are a lot more common than blues. Error OPAs are worth a little more. There are 30 different red tokens and 24 blue ones. They are all vulacanized fiber (celluloid) and 16mm in size. Features Specifications SKU: 20190422-001 Condition: Used Condition Note: As Pictured Height Width Depth Weight Shipping Package Length: 8.0 inches Package Width: 4.0 inches Package Height: 1.0 inches Package Weight: 0.0625 pounds Item shipped from Utah (84043). Domestic packages under 1 lbs shipped via USPS Ground Advantage rate unless otherwise purchased by the buyer. Domestic packages 1 lbs or over normally shipped via USPS Priority rate unless otherwise purchased by the buyer. International packages are shipped International Shipping only. We DO NOT charge any handling rates or other costs other than actual shipping charges.