From: mpcgram-owner@papermoneyworld.net on behalf of MPCgram [mpcgram@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 12:30 AM To: mpcgram@papermoneyworld.net Subject: *****SPAM***** MPCGram 1511 ------------------------ / MPC Gram News Letter / ----------------------- =========================================== MPC GRAM =========================================== Vol 7, no 1511 Monday October 23, 2006 Italy Report   by Roger Urce   For quite a while my wife and I had planned to go to Italy and this past September we finally got to take the trip. We started in Rome, the first of the twelve cities and towns we would visit, and experienced the beauty of Vatican City and the Vatican museums with its magnificent frescos, mosaics and sculptures. Since the Vatican is its own country it has its own postal system with the Vatican post office right in St. Peter's square. I picked up some stamps for postcards and took a look around for any philatelic or numismatic items which may have been of interest. Nothing out of the ordinary was found except for a commemorative silver coin honoring the late Pope JohnPaul II. It was a nicely done coin but at 200 Euros (about $260) I passed. In our two and one-half days in Rome I looked for local coin shops but none were to be found. After Rome we found ourselves on the road to Cassino to visit the monastery (Monte Cassino) which was the site of a long and bloody battle during World War II. As we passed through Cassino enroute up the narrow winding road to the monastery out of the window I saw a sign which told me the building was a museum dedicated to Cassino and the war. How do you say "stop the bus" in Italian? It did not matter because even after asking in English the bus kept going.  We spent a couple of hours at the monastery and saw how it was restored after it's destruction during the battle. On the way back down the mountain I again tried to convince the tour guide to stop at the museum but we were told the schedule would not permit a stop. I can only guess at what I would have found. Our tour continued on through some small coastal towns and villages one of which was Orvieto known for its beautiful cathederal and outstanding white wine. My wife stopped in a local shop and upon paying the bill I took the change from my pocket to count out the Euro coins. As I did so the shop owner inquired about my challenge coin which was with the change in my hand. She spoke no English and I could not find the words in Italian to explain what a challenge coin was and how it used, so I told her it was a military coin. She took a closer look and commented it was "bello" (nice). Our next city was Pisa with its leaning tower and all the tourists taking a picture trying to hold it up. I did manage to find a stamp shop in the square but it offered just stamps most of which were Italian and none of which had any military themes. Florence has a wonderful museum dedicated to Michelangelo and that is where, among many other pieces, we were able to see his sculpture "David." I did find a coin shop but it was small and featured common Italian coins and uncirculated Euro coins at high prices. No paper money or military related items. We eventually wound up in Venice with its canals and St. Mark's Cathedral and the Doges palace. While avoiding the multitude of pigeons in the square I found myself in front of another stamp dealer's shop. I expected to find stamps but to my surprise on display was a set of Italian AMC! The set contained the one, two, five and ten lira notes in uncirculated condition priced at 90 Euros. The set also contained, priced separately at 130 Euros, a 100 lira note, series 1943A. The notes were not replacements so I could not account for the high pricing. I ventured inside and while I waited for a customer to finish with the owner, I noticed a complete set of Italian Allied Military Government stamps in mint condition for 8 Euros. I already have a mint set so I passed on another even though I thought the price reasonable. I asked the owner if he had any other AMC and he produced a binder with two 1000 lira notes. Both were series 1943; one, priced at 840 Euros was in uncirculated condition and the other, which was listed as UNC, appeared to be AU and  was listed at 800 Euros. The notes were nice but at over $1000 each were, in my opinion, overpriced. In the same binder were some Italian notes from 1944 and I bought a 100 Lira Banca d'Italia note (Pick 75) in XF+ for $30.  A short plane ride found us back in Rome for two days on our own. I thought about taking the train to Cassino to visit the museum but was told there was a very good chance it would be closed on Mondays. To that my wife told me we would just have to come back again.  Rome is built on seven hills and for two days we walked up all fourteen of them seeing the ruins of ancient Rome and all the while looking for another coin of stamp dealer. Again I had no luck but we did find some nice cheese, some great wine and, of course, some olive oil. I wanted to bring back a 5 Euro note as a souvenir and discovered that they must be printed wrinkled and creased. An uncirculated example could not be found despite asking at banks and money exchanges. All things considered it was a great trip and the food wasn't too shabby either. ***************************************************** Championship Question Corner Question: Question Question 166, difficulty 2. Upon what event was the name Free French to Fighting French? Yesterday's Question 165, difficulty 2. What Military Fest Certificate features a chess theme? The answer is MFC Series 062 $3. Question: Kathy Myers answered: No answers were received from the field (or we lost them). ========================================== Editorial ========================================== I have had many things to report, but I am drawing a blank at the moment. As you will see in the letters section, we continue to have delivery problems. I am frustrated about this, but cannot think of anything else to do at the moment. One research matter has been giving me many problems. It is US Series F (and G) bonds. Both of these are very scarce making it difficult to research them in detail. My mind it a bit frail also contributing to the problem. The basic question is: do Series F bonds exist with Defense and/or War legends? They certainly exist without the legends even though the space seems to be there for the legend and other indicators, well, indicate, that the legends should be there. However, it is very hard to accept the notion that the several example seen without the legends are errors. Recently, I found on my (computer) desktop some scans (I think from Jim Downey) of an application for Series F bonds. The application specifically states: ...for Series F War Bonds. This may seem like a small point, but it is one that we simply must nail down for a planned (hoped for) book on US war bonds and certainly for the second edition of Remembered. ========================================= Mail Call =========================================== Dear Editor and company clerk who is wise in all these things. When you have to crawl and grovel, do it in style! My sincere apologies for ommitting the prewarning re the First Australian Minifest in Melbourne. We will know better next time. I have since fixed up Doug and Al with scans and we have received the first emails re possible extras from the certificate issue. As stated before the YN's will get first shot at the ANA auction next year when the Australian contingent arrives in town (Colorado)with any extras. they are going in bank safe custody until then. It had better be good if its to beat vegemite auction prices!! No one in Australia can believe that Americans would pay a total of nearly 700$ for a $3.50 tube of a substance that is such an acquired taste. Maybe that is the Australian's secret weapon!. regards Tony James Dear Tony, Battalion clerk and don't you forget it! Editor Fred, Obviously you have never heard of abebooks.com  This is THE PLACE to find books. They have MANY copies of Volume 1 for sale. Ken Berger Dear Sir, That is a very good suggetion. I ordered a matched pair of first and second volumes having prevously ordered a third volume. Editor Dear Gram, Just purchased a 1d and 3d Lautoka (Fiji) Hotel cardboard tokens dated1942. Will send scans when I get 'em - and buy myself a new scanner. kerry Dear Gram, Did you take my name off the mailing list?  Haven't received a Gram since 1500.  Saw where you are up to 1510 at PMWorld.com. Sure miss it. Take Care, Ron Dear Gram, Please put me on the Fest list. Geroge Slade Dear Editor, Are you still emailing the grams? Haven't got any for a while.    JJS Dear J, Is your subscription current? Ok, well, we seem to continue to have distribution problems. I do not know what we can do. Editor =========================================== 2006 The London Paper Money Fair has moved to: Victory Services Club, 63 Seymour Street, off Edgware Road, Marble Arch London and the dates are: Nov 26. see: www.britishnotes.co.uk or www.londonpapermoneyfair.co.uk Nov 11, Boling house warming party and mini Fest (1600-2000). Nov 16-19, 2007 Pcda St Louis. IBNS meeting with program by Jim Downey subject "notes with military themes." It is Saturday at 1:00, mini-Fest to follow. 2007 MPCFest: March 23-25 2007 details TBA. [Reservations received: John Cheney(T, k), Harold Kroll(T), Ski, Louise and Joe Boling (k), Warner and Jane (auxilliary)(T), Ian and Bella Marshall(T), Jim Downey(T), Howard Daniel(T,M), Bill Yanchick and Miles (T), Kathy and Dan Freeland (k,T), Sparky Watson (T), Roger Urce(T), Ray and Steve Feller, Geroge Slade, Fred and Judy (auxiliary) Schwan(T). [Totals: festers 20, new Festers 0, Tiger lillies (auxilliary) 2, k=king room] Eternal Festers: Mike Cummings, Robert Kutcher, Leo May. Coordinating instructions. Please try to coordinate ground transportation from Cleveland, Detroit or Toledo Airports to reduce rental cars. If you cannot find a ride on your own contact adjutant and transportation officer Sparky Watson (mark.watson@edwards.af.mil). Neither Sparky nor the Fest accept any responsibility for ground transportation, but we will be happy to try to coordinate a ride for you. This MIGHT include ground transportation being sent from Fest Headquarters, but you cannot count on this and you might have to wait depending on other demands. Memphis 21-23 June. ANA Summer semnar Session I: June 24-29, 2007* Session II: June 30-July 6, 2007 ANA Convention, Milwaukee. ========================================== for dealer Hot Contact list, ANA MPC museum holdings and other static information please click this link: http://www.papermoneyworld.net/Gramattichments.htm ========================================= 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. WANTED SECTION: Collectors may submit lists of items wanted for their collections for listing here. WANTED - JAPANESE INVASION MONEY (JIM). Collector/researcher of these notes by zone, type, and block letter, or number will buy or trade.  Checklist available, Anythinfg unusual is of particular interest. Mike Payton, 6609 Craig, Merriam, KS. USA 66202, papermoneymike@yahoo.com 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. ======================================= MPCGram Staff: Publisher, editor: Fred Schwan fred@papermoneyworld.net; 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 - skitex@cox.net, Critic:Harold Kroll - HARBONS@aol.com Scholarship Coordinator: Marcus Turner- marucs@papermoneyworld.net; Webmaster and Technical Advisors:Doug Bell "Wiz" - doug@papermoneyworld.net Russ Walsh -russ.walsh@gte.net Fact Checker: Warner Talso -Calendar Coordinator: John and 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!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com mpc gram mail list To subscribe to a list, send a mail message to "imailsrv@papermoneyworld.net" at this address with the following in the body of the message: subscribe mpcgram your_full_name To unsubscribe from a list, send a mail message to "imailsrv@papermoneyworld.net" at this address with the following in the body of the message: unsubscribe mpcgram if you have any problems please report then to doug@papermoneyworld.net !DSPAM:453da5fa170156941516953!