"My Own Savings Book came out in late 1939 and was widely advertised in 1940 and 1941. They stopped shortly after the war began, but I suspect it was a big seller as banks and other institutions sold them direct. Newspapers ran ads in 1947 and 1948, but then they stopped. I recall our local bank encouraging elementary school students to open bank accounts in the early 1950's. I did, but failed to keep up with it. Ten years later I opened a mutual fund and wish I had stuck with it. Live and learn. Try as I might, I was unable to come up with anything on Defend America Coin Savings Book."

Thanks - Jim provided the above newspaper images. The ad is from the Albany, NY Times Union of December 19, 1940, and the article is from The Newton Graphic of Newton, MA on December 25, 1941. -Editor

"The cardboard coin holders used to save up for the back deposit reminded me of the first reason that I started collecting coins. The silver dimes I put in these holders were noted to be worth 15 cents in silver in 1968 the newspaper said. I checked the coins in my holders and there were many silver dimes. My mother had a high school friend who had achieved status as bank president in Grand Junction, Colorado so she mailed my dime cards to his bank from my home in Fort Collins, Colorado for a deposit. This newspaper article certainly changed my savings habit."