From: "MPCgram" To: Subject: MPCGram 1046 Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 11:25 AM =========================================== MPC GRAM =========================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 005 - Number 1046 Tuesday November 11, 2003 Friend Passes By Ed Kuszmar (taken from chat room posting, submitted by Brian Giese) With great sadness I must report that Stanley A. Furman, world paper money dealer, has passed away at his home in Belgium. I believe he was 67 years old. I just talked to his wife Khely and she said he died at home very peaceably. He was my friend for well over 30 years and I will cherish fond memories of the many trips we took together and all the time we spent together. He will be missed very much. If anyone would like to send their condolences the address is: Khely Furman, PB41, 8400 Oostende 2, Belgium. The funeral is set for next Wednesday in Belgium. Mixed Commentary By Joe Boling In re Mr. Doric's suggestion that the expanded version of the gram be published only weekly or fortnightly - hear, hear! I have been saying this for years. I only retain the full version about once a month. I check the PX daily - if it has changed, it gets saved. If not, it gets chucked with everything else starting at the calendar of events. Did everyone check the serial/position number congruence on the 541 $10 replacement reported in gram 1041? Note the confluence of 41s - it is a series 541, position 41, reported in gram 1041. And the position number is correct for the serial; the note is from the 6038th sheet in the unit of 8000 sheets (only one unit of replacements was prepared in the first printing of 400,000 replacements). I immediately checked the numbers because even though the SN font looks good, the note overall looks a bit flaky (probably due to scanner resolution and color cast). Nobody has mentioned the superb article in the most recent IBNS Journal by Kazuya Fujita, titled "Japanese Military Currency (1937-1945): Quantities Printed and Issued." This 24-page (!) article is the most comprehensive study of the subject in any language. He has synthesized information from multiple Japanese- and English-language sources, and covers all emissions of military yen, JIM, the Southern Development Bank, and the puppet banks of the Southern Resources Area (banks in Burma and the Philippines). One interesting proposition is that the letter S on the Netherlands East Indies notes stands for Sunda, as in the Sunda Islands. This "S" is conventionally seen as representing Sumatra, with some researchers holding out for Shonan, but Fujita's proposal makes the most sense. He also explains why Burmese JIM started with denominations of 1/4 rupee, half rupee, etc, and no smaller fractions, while later in the period of use, small fractional notes of 1, 5, and 10 cents appeared. This coincided with the conversion of the Burmese currency into a decimal system (from the prior Indian pice/annas/rupees system, which is not decimal). The article deserves careful attention from all collectors of these series. If you collect military monies beyond MPC, but do not belong to the IBNS, it is time that you joined (and ask for this issue - volume 42 #2 - as part of your welcome packet). Dues are $20 annually, and you get four 64-page journals and three less-massive newsletters, plus an annual auction that contains thousands of lots (over 5000 lots in this year's sale, which closed on 31 October). Write Milan Alusic, General Secretary, at PO Box 1642, Racine WI 53401, or email him at milana@wi.net. Dues may be paid by credit card (VISA/MC/AMEX - gram readers are the first to know that IBNS now can accept American Express cards). =========================================== Editorial/opinion =========================================== It is indeed sad to have to report the death of Stan Furman. It is appropriate to publish the announcement today since he was a veteran. I am not sure of the arm or even era of service, but he did mention his veteran status to me. For years Stan and I have talked about getting together to play chess. We talked often about the game, but never played. I am particularly sad about some disagreements that Stan and I had. The good that can come of sad news like this is for those of us remaining to be inspired to improve out lives. Veterans Day is always special for the Gram. Obviously, it honors veterans of all types and eras which we respect. Also obviously, the many issues that we study and collect were inextricably intertwined with military operations around the world. Because of the above, the Gram volume number (called series) advances on Veterans Day each year instead of on January first. Both the series designation and Veterans Day observations were suggestions of Brad Peacock. =========================================== MAIL CALL =========================================== Dear Gram, What are the tolerances for the size of MPC notes? If you decide to put this in the gram, please put it in anonymously. Scissors Dear Scissors, Tolerance for whom? Many wives do not have much tolerance for MPC at all. Tolerance compared to the production specifications would be of greatest importance at the production facility. For collectors small size deviations are generally not recognized as varieties for the very reason implied by your question. These deviations get even harder to evaluate in worn (circulated) notes. Then, even if a note is not within tolerance, it does not make much difference if all of the notes are that way. I expect lots of commentary on this so please stand by. Editor Dear Editor, I greatly enjoyed (and laughed a bunch) your observations about hiking in the Smokies. I forwarded your story to others who might need to face Monday morning with a good laugh. Michele Dear Gram, Enjoyed your survival tale along the AT as well as the drink machine that gobbled up your 481 $5 replacement. Forty years ago, my old scoutmaster (think drill sgt) decided that we youngsters needed to hike the AT, his goal was all of it. We had the chance to visit parts of rural NY and NJ for a weekend jaunt. One summer, 1964, we drove down south all the way to Key West, FL. We enjoyed the Smokeys too, a modest amount of hiking and a lot of driving. His scoutmastership was convinced to challenge the highway somewhere around Cherokee, NC in his '61 Buick LeSabre wagon. We raced to 105 mph and then decided to come back to our senses. We did lose a tire on the trip but luckily not at 105. I do recall collecting some attractive conch shells in the shallow water in the Florida Keys. Seems that the inner conch critters don't like to leave their shell homes on a voluntary basis. But, if you remove the creatures from the sea and don't boil out the conch, the smell will soon become odiferous, especially in the back of the Buick wagon...throw in 100 degrees and 110 percent humidity. Your survival tip is to "Beware of Jupiter, FL." We were obligated to RON at a campground there on the guise of considering a timeshare purchase. The next AM, I counted over 100 bites on my left arm alone. We were snookered into staying there for the evening, but were able to cancel reservations for the next night. Seems that the local residents had an affinity for O+ and I was a designated donor. The campground really was disguised as a mosquito breeding ground. The great part about southern Florida, as Ski, Leo and Mike will know, is that the trails are pretty level. You just have to take caution to avoid the coral chunks found in the woods south of Coral Gables...they can be the start of a nasty infection. But as the old drill sgt would say, "Great training opportunity!" Anyone for Vermont? Regards, webfootbob Dear Michele and Web, You guys (Gramsters) sure keep me off guard. Is it a coordinated plan or does it just happen? I write my travelogue and get nothing in response. As soon as I complain I get responses. Now I do not know if I really had a 481 $5 replacement. Editor Dear Esteeemed Editor, I had a couple of hours in my schedule today so I walked down Le Loi to number 80. The Ngoc Phuong Shop is there. Mrs Phuong is an old friend and one of the good guys here in HCMC. I found only a few items for myself but when I asked her for MPC, she pulled out some stuff that is almost as bad as the VDS bunch. Her batch is coded with NPS and her mailing address is 80 Le Loi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam. Her email is TranThiKimPhuong@hcm.vnn.vn. She has limited English but I am sure she can find someone to read your email to her if you keep it simple. While I am here until the 17th (16th your time), I can pick the piece(s) up for you, but after I leave, you can email her and ask her to take it to Van Dung Shop at 15 Le Loi and Dung will pay her for it and set it aside for me or someone else coming through town to bring back to the USA for you. A lot of mail is getting through from Viet Nam, but I would not yet trust it. I cannot remember if I wrote about four other MPCs listed just about VDS. They are owned by Tran The Gia and coded as TTG. His address is 59A Ly Chinh Thang, District 3, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam. He is not yet on my good guys list and thus no deal set up with him so you will have to contact me before I depart to buy one or more of his pieces. I am quite surprised to have found about 600 MPCs so far but the grades are all low, so this is the bad stuff coming out of the woodwork and the dealers buying it because they sold all of the good stuff. The list is attached to this email as MPCinVN.xls (an MS-Excel spreadsheet database) and Doug Bell will be putting the additional pieces into the database. Please do not hold off until the last minute for your selections. As my time gets short, I have fewer and fewer opportunities to go and fetch the pieces for you, if at all. That is it for now. The Master Sergeant Daniel at Howard@SEAsianTreasury.com Dear Gram, I would like to correct something Warner Talso stated in his most recent column. Newfoundland is both the name of the island and the province. The province includes Newfoundland Island and Labrador which is part of mainland Canada, located northeast of Quebec, and is much bigger than the island.. If I am not mistaken, Newfoundland both today and prior to joining Canada always included both Newfoundland Island and Labrador. So, during WW II, Newfoundland included both parts and not just the island as Warner stated. Ken Berger Dear Gram, Not to be picky regarding Warner's excellent series on WW II financing, but, IIRC, the USA traded 50 'overage & obsolete' destroyers to the UK for bases not only in Newfoundland and Bermuda but other places in the Caribbean area. Jay (not being picky...) in Garrison, TX reply, if ya' wanna, to whohah1@yahoo.com =========================================== CALENDAR OF EVENTS =========================================== PCDA National and World Paper Money Convention. November 19-23, 2003. St. Louis Hilton Airport Hotel, 10330 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63134. Lyn Knight auction, consignment deadline September 30, 2003 2004 CPMX February 26-28, Lyn Knight auction. Consignment deadline January 10, 2004. March 5-7, MPCFest V, reservations now being accepted. Reservations entered in order received: Roger Urce#$$, John Cheney#$, David Seelye, Harold Kroll, Gail Baker#, Leo May$$$, Kevin Neidy, Cuneyd Tolek, Warner Talso, Cameron Bueschel, Wendell Wolka, John V. Craig#, John Cheney#, Steve Swoish, Joe Bissell#, Sparky Watson, Nick Schrier, Loretta Freyser, Dick Freyser, Ron Waddell, Robert Drew, Ed Arrich#, Neil Shafer#, Dan Freeland#, Bill McNease, Doug Bell, Bob Olson$$, Fred Schwan$. # new Fester, $ paid. $$ paid single (˘˘ unpaid single) occupancy. Running totals: total 28, new festers 9. Standard rate $148, single occupancy $198, payments may be made by mailing paper instruments of any kind to BNR Press (or MPCFest or even Fred Schwan) at 132 E. Second St., Port Clinton, OH 43452. Payments may also be sent via PayPal (fredschawan@yahoo.com). Once you have sent your payment, monitor the above list to ensure that it has been received and posted). Show n tell: Gail Baker (education@money.org) Travel coordination: Sparky Watson (mcwatson@yahoo.com) Auction items: Larry Smulczenski (skifla@prodigy.net) Exhibits: Joe Boling (joeboling@aol.com ) The Portland, Oregon, ANA is March 26-28 and it is sponsored by the Willamette Coin Club with Larry Gaye as the show chairman. Howard Sarg Daniel will be manning a NI/NBS/IBNS club table at this show, and moderating meetings for NI and IBNS. As always, Gramsters are welcome at the NI and IBNS meetings and at the club table. Masstricht April 23-25, Valkenburg, The Netherlands, contact Jos Eijsermans, Box 3240, NL 5930 Tegelen Netherlands 2005 date tba, MPCFest VI, reservations now being accepted. Reservations entered in order received: John Cheney$, Danny Bingham$, Fred Schwan. # new Fester, $ paid. $$ paid single occupancy. Running totals: total 3, new festers 1. ======================================== 2004 scholarship fund Donations of cash and numismatic material will be gladly accepted. Generally the numismatic material is auctioned at MPCFest, but might be sold via ebay or other places. Your scholarship donations help the hobby by sending qualified individuals to the ANA summer seminar military money class. Except for unavoidable charges like ebay fees, 100% of your donation goes to scholarships. Al Glaser RA Medina Warner Talso David Seelye Russ Walsh Joe Boling Harold Kroll Pam West Ed Hoffman Ron Wadell Wes Hardy Dick Freyser Robert Drew Brett Irick Kevin Neidy Brian Giese John & Nancy Wilson John Cheney Neil Schafer Joel Shafer Arlen Sheldon 2003 Scholarship Donors Ed Hoffman - RA Medina - Dick Freyser -Larry Smulczenski - David Seelye - Howard Daniel - Steve Feller - Warner Talso - Pam West - Mr. 691 - Leo May - John & Nancy Wilson - Max Spiegel - Gail Baker - Chris Connell - Bill Haines - Joel Shafer - Mikhail (Misha) Istomin - Gary Hicks - Robert Drew - Tom Warburton - Larry Lee - Fred Schwan - Mark Watson - Harold Kroll - Ian Marshall - Marcus Turner - Neil Shafer - Keith & Sue Bauman Contact me at: "Marcus Turner" mail to: maturner@indy.rr.com Checks should be made out to the "Military Numismatists Scholarship." or Marcus Turner 8103 East US Highway 36 Suite 163 Avon, Indiana 46123 USA IMPORTANT SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION Additional information can be found at the link below. We encourage everyone to print copies of this information and distribute it to those who might be interested. Further you are encouraged to e-mail the pdf document to anyone you see fit. Thank you http://www.papermoneyworld.net/news/Military Numismatists Scholarship Fund 2003.pdf Marcus Turner Scholarships from the ANA: See the following location for an application for financial aid to the summer seminar: http://www.money.org/sumsemfin.html =========================================== MPC ANA Museum Project =========================================== ANA collection of MPC: Thanks to donations from Douglas Bell, Dick Fryser, Ed Beaman, Bruce Peacock, David Seelye, Michael Cummings, Ray Czahor, David Pitchford and Mr 691the ANA MPC collection is current as follows: Series 100 - [50 sen], [1Y, 5Y, 10Y, 20Y all A underprint] Series 461 - 5, [10] cents, [$1] Series 471 - [5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $10] Series 472 - [5, 10 cents], [$1, $10] Series 481 - 5 cents, [10, 25 cents], 50 cents, $1, [$5] $10 Series 521 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, [$10] Series 541 - 5, 10, 25 cents Series 591 - [5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1] Series 611 - [5, 10, 25 cents, $1] Series 641 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1, $5, $10 Series 651 - [$1] Series 661 - [10, 25, 50c], [$5], [$1, $5] $10 Series 681 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1, [$5], [$20] Series 691 - [$1, $5, $10, $20] Series 692 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1 Series 701 - [$1, $5, $10, $20] [50c etc.] = notes donated by Gramsters –Chris Connell =========================================== RESEARCH =========================================== New modification to the database you can now retrieve your password if you have forgotten at the main logon screen. Keep in mind syntax is important. The mpc database has changed its name it now going to be referred as, WW II P a p e r M o n e y D a t a B a s e This is just a hint of things to come If you are having trouble logging on please inform Doug Bell At doug@papermoneyworld.net Papermoneyworld maintains an innovative interactive data base of all military payment certificates. Everyone is invited to enter notes in their possession or that they have observed. Visit the site at: http://www.papermoneyworld.net/user/default.asp this project is financially supported by David Seelye http://www.thempcman.net/ , mailto: coinman@rochester.rr.com =========================================== Subscription information: =========================================== You can enter an email address to receive the gram by using the link below. Use this to change your address (add the new one), add a friend or enemy. http://www.papermoneyworld.net/WebMailList/Default.asp ========================================= HOT CONTACT LIST - DEALER & RESOURCE LIST Below is the BNR Press Hot Contact List. This list serves several functions. Obviously it is an outreach by the dealers listed for your business. Most of them buy and sell MPC. Others organize shows or publish periodicals, or furnish information dedicated to this field. They have supported the new Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates with their advertising. They deserve your support and patronage! Name phone fax / cell email Allens (614) 882-3937 (614) 882-0662 info@allens.com American Coins & Collectibles (800) 865-3562 American Numismatic Ass'n (800) 367-9723 ana@money.org Guy Araby (562) 945-7891(310) 508-0018 guyaraby@earthlink.net Bob Baker(713) 864-3122 Ken Barr (408) 272-3247 ken@kenbarr.com Fred Bart (810) 979-3400 Dick Balbaton (508) 699-2266 (508) 643-1154 RBalbaton@aol.com Keith and Suzanne Bauman (248) 647 8938 tnaksbauman@earthlink.net Joe Bissell (602) 440-0442 (602) 494-9103 BNR Press (419) 732-6683 (419) 732-6683 fredschwan@yahoo.com Remy Bourne (800) 789-7070 (763) 789-4747 Ed Carne (614) 882-3937 (614) 882-0662 info@allens.com Champion Stamp (212) 489-8130 (212) 581-8130 Cookie Jar Collectibles (301) 604-9225 cjcpi@comcast.net Guido Crapanzano [39] 2-8056228 [39] 2-4459856 Currency Dealer Newsletter (310) 515-7369 David F. Cieniewicz (205) 852-7015 CGC (602) 493-4758 (602) 494-9103 sales@gradedcurrency.com Mike Cummings (863) 603-9899 (863) 603-9880 mpccoin@hotmail.com Cygnet Charters (419) 734-2422 Ray Czahor (301) 604-9225 cjcpi@comcast.net Denlys of Boston (617) 482-8477 denlys@aol.com Doric Coins & Currency (508) 699-2266 (508) 643-1154 FUN (407) 321-8747 Great Lakes Bank Note Company (419) 732-6683 IBNS joeboling@aol.com Essie Kashani (909) 627-3996 (909) 627-2776 kashani10@aol.com Lowel Horwdel (765) 583-2748 (765) 583-4584 horwdel@inshightbb.com Lyn Knight (800) 243-5211 Krause Publications (715) 445-2214 bnr@krause.com Harold Kroll(251) 649-5134 HARBONS@aol.com Leo May (305) 720-0659 LeoMayEnt@aol.com Ian Marshall (416) 445-0286 (416) 445-0286 iam@total.net Memphis Coin Club (901) 757-2515 MPCGram (419) 732-6683 MPCGram@yahoo.com Pomexport Ltd. 1-201-641-6641 / Fax: 1-201-641-1700 E-Mail: Info@pomexport.com // website: http://www.Pomexport.com Bob Reed(504) 361-5684 bobreed@rrcoins.net Fred Schwan (419) 732-6683 (419) 732-6683 FredSchwan@yahoo.com David Seelye (585) 594-1987 (585) 594-2311 coinman@rochester.rr.com Richie Self (318) 868-9077 R. M. Smythe (800) 622-1880 (212) 908-4047 www.smytheonline.com Mel Steinberg & Son (415) 897-1654 (voice and fax) melsteinberg@mindspring.com Military Trader (800) 334-7165 Scott Winslow Associates (603)472-7040 (603) 472-8773 scott@scottwinslow.com George Warner(307) 672-3700 Pam West [44] 0208 641 3224[44] 0208 641 3224 pamwestbritnotes@compuserve.com ======================================= POST / BASE EXCHANGE(PX/BX/NEX) Dump your dupes! Your classified advertisement for items for sale, purchase or trade will be run here for free. Send your ads to the gram. This service is for everyone, most humble dealer or most advanced collector. The point is to make the gram more interesting. In all cases confirm your order via email first. FOR SALE WANTED SECTION: Collectors may submit lists of items wanted for their collections for listing here. Dealers and collectors who have these items, are then encouraged to list them for sale in the above section as a reply. Wanted listings will run for a period of 1 month. WANTED 01; =========================================== MPC Gram Staff: Publisher, editor: Fred Schwan - MPCGram@yahoo.com Subscription Manager:Doug Bell- doug@papermoneyworld.net Tuesday Columnist : JoeBoling- JoeBoling@aol.com Friday Columnist: Warner Talso: wtalso@aol.com Fest Auctioneer: Larry "Ski"Smulczenski - skifla@prodigy.net Critic:Harold Kroll - HARBONS@aol.com Scholarship Coordinator: Marcus Turner- maturner@indy.rr.com Webmaster & Technical Advisors:Doug Bell "Wiz" - doug@papermoneyworld.net Russ Walsh - russ.walsh@gte.net Fact Checker: Warner Talso -Calendar Coordinator: John & Nancy Wilson -The Boss: Judy Schwan ===== MPC Gram is published by BNR Press and papermoneyworld.com as a free service to the community of military money collectors. Your suggestions, criticisms, complaints, editorial contributions, letters, and even praise are very welcome. The entire contents including linked illustrations are copyright protected by the publishers. In the case of contributors, the copyright is protected on behalf of the creators. Please send all correspondence regarding the gram to MPCgram@yahoo.com. Thank you very much for your participation. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree