<P> Scrip and tokens have often been issued locally in times of severe economic distress such as financial crises and the Civil War . During the Depression , a local bank in Tenino , Washington , issued emergency currency printed on thin shingles of wood . Blaine , Washington , soon did the same with both flat scrip and , in response to requests generated by news and word of mouth , coins that included a 5 - cent piece . The Chicago World 's Fair in 1933 issued wooden nickels as souvenirs , and the tradition of wooden nickels as tokens and souvenirs continues to the present day . </P>
<P> Scrip and tokens have often been issued locally in times of severe economic distress such as financial crises and the Civil War . During the Depression , a local bank in Tenino , Washington , issued emergency currency printed on thin shingles of wood . Blaine , Washington , soon did the same with both flat scrip and , in response to requests generated by news and word of mouth , coins that included a 5 - cent piece . The Chicago World 's Fair in 1933 issued wooden nickels as souvenirs , and the tradition of wooden nickels as tokens and souvenirs continues to the present day . </P>
where did the term wooden nickel come from
where did the term wooden nickel come from
Blaine , Washington
Blaine , Washington