OPA points are small vulcanized fiber red ration tokens issued during World War II to make change for ration coupons.
The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was established within the Office for Emergency Management of the United States government by Executive Order 8875 on August 28, 1941. The functions of the OPA were originally to control money (price controls) and rents after the outbreak of World War II.
It became an independent agency under the Emergency Price Control Act, January 30, 1942. The OPA had the power to place ceilings on all prices except agricultural commodities, and to ration scarce supplies of other items, including tires, automobiles, shoes, nylon, sugar, gasoline, fuel oil, coffee, meats and processed foods. At the peak, almost 90% of retail food prices were frozen. It could also authorize subsidies for production of some of those commodities. OPA's were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps.
There are 30 tokens in the OPA Red set. The known letter combinations are HC, HT, MM, MV, 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. Token MV is considered Ultra Rare, and the key in the set. The rarest token is MV. Token MM is considered Rare and is the second most important token in the set. Tokens YC and XC are considered Semi-Rare and are harder to find than commons.
Location United States
Type Ration tokens › Food ration token
Years 1942-1945
Composition Fiber (Vulcanized Fiber)
Weight 0.33 g
Diameter 16 mm
Thickness 1.40 mm
Shape Round
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized 1945
Number N# 21179