Scrip was a form of private currency used in many West Virginia coal towns, issued by coal companies in the form of paper or metal tokens. It was used instead of cash for buying goods at company stores. Scrip helped companies keep money in their control and reduced the risk of theft, but it also meant miners were often stuck spending their earnings at the company store, where scrip could not be exchanged for cash.

Miners could "cut" or "draw" scrip daily, but it was usually only valid at the company store, and independent traders would buy it for a lower value. Laws to regulate scrip were passed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but companies found ways to continue using it to control workers. While scrip helped miners at first, it also trapped them in a cycle of debt, especially for new workers brought in with company-provided transportation.

As cars, mail-order shopping, and new credit options became more common, scrip use declined and eventually disappeared by the 1950s, but it remains an important part of West Virginia's history.