Return-Path: Received: from web5201.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.95]) by walker.mail.mindspring.net (Mindspring Mail Service) with SMTP id t4s2ne.a6nq.37kbi73 for ; Sat, 30 Dec 2000 11:18:54 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <20001230161852.28973.qmail@web5201.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [64.12.101.151] by web5201.mail.yahoo.com; Sat, 30 Dec 2000 08:18:52 PST Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 08:18:52 -0800 (PST) From: MPCgram Subject: MPC Gram 211 To: mpcgram@yahoo.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii ==================================================== MPC Gram ==================================================== Covering the Entire World of Military Numismatics ---------------------------------------------------- Series 002-Number 211 Saturday - 30 December 2000 COLLECTOR MAKES IMPORTANT DISCOVERY By Harold Kroll It had been announced that the last note needing to be found for the MPC Multiple Printing notes would be the Series 472 2nd printing .50 cent note: In "MPC Gram" issue #122, from September 22, 2000, All Multiple Printings Reported, Fred Schwan made the comment, that based upon documents on file at the Bureau of Engraving and printing, more than 432,000 Series 472 .50 cent notes were destroyed. Although this group was not identified by printing or serial number, and based upon the circumstantial evidence, it was likely that all of the second printing notes were destroyed. Therefore it was decided that all Multiple Printing notes had been reported. On Friday, December 8th, 2000. I was looking at a group of notes that was for sale, as I looked through the 20 or so pieces, first looking for any replacement notes, of which there were none, secondly looking for specialty notes, with again no luck, and not recognizing any high serial numbers, I passed on the group of notes. For some unknown reason, the notes came back to mind and I decided I had better go back and take another look at them. Well, let me tell you, I was "STUNNED" to say the least, as I found the Series 472 2nd printing .50 cent note: serial number: C04035139C, position number: 1. How could I have missed such a great note the first time I looked at the group?? I was beside myself for a few days and could not keep from bursting the news to someone. Finally after deciding to do such, I contacted another MPC multiple printing collector & friend: Phil Goldstein - IWANTMYMPC@aol.com, and I discussed this note with him to make sure I was not wrong in my findings. (Reference Phil's Website at: IWANTMYMPC's Military Payment Certificate, Military Currency & Numismatic WebPage for Multiple Printing information and Serial Number breakdowns) Phil about went through the roof when I told him of the note, in fact he actually became quite ill and did not want to discuss it any further at the time, said goodbye, and hung up the phone. (It is one of two remaining notes he needs to complete his multiple printing set of 157 notes). At this point I was a little let down, and still not sure if the note was what I thought it to be, as a few things still needed to be answered. Was this a counterfeit note? Possibly a raised note from a lower denomination? A good copy of a note, or…? Later that evening, Phil got back in touch with me about the note, stated he was feeling better, and wanted to know what it would take to get the note from me. I told him it was not for sale. After threatening my life, (several times in fact!) among several other things, (but most of all, being extremely proud that I found the note), we got down to the business of confirming the authenticity of the note. At first, we could not get the position number to work out right, but that problem was finally solved, and the position number worked out with serial number. We checked the note for planchettes in the paper and that checked out. There was no evidence the note had been tampered with to raise from a lower denomination, so that was ok. There was no indication that is was a pieced together note, and we ruled out that it was a copy of a note. Compared to several examples of 1st printing notes and could find no differences there either. After all the checking, we feel, it is indeed a genuine Series 472 2nd printing 50 cent note. I went out of town for a few days, and Phil contacted Larry Smulczenski about the note and discussed all the things that we had thought about to use for verification on the note. Larry was also very excited about the new discovery, as he wrote the first story on the Series 481 multiple printing notes. It is a very fine article, and everyone should read it. He opted to hold his opinion until he could examine the note himself, but felt that the note was more than likely authentic. At first I wanted to keep the discovery under wraps and hold announcement of this new discovery for "The Fest II" or as its been dubbed, "Next Fest," March 9/10/11 2001 in Port Clinton, OH. There is a new MPC book in the works, slated for delivery by the Fest event, so the news had to be released so it could be published in the new book. I'm still very excited about finding this note and being able to share such a GREAT find with the MPC collecting community, and of course adding it to my collection. ==================================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- The announcement of the second printing series 472 50c note is exciting news. I will try to provide the supporting data concerning this note in the next few days. To me this discovery is all the more exciting because it is a note that we did not even know about two years ago (in spite of what Neil said yesterday). Furthermore it was found by a keen collector in the traditional of junk box finds! Treasure hunting lives! This discovery was is the one that was scheduled for announcement in chat. It seemed to me a wonderful opportunity to have people participate in the announcement. That announcement was canceled because of a schedule problem and because of the criticism of the idea. I am sorry for any inconvenience that this caused. In spite of the criticism, this seems like a good use of our new collecting tools: announcement of a news event in the Gram, then the event in chat. However, we certainly welcome your additional thoughts (and yes, criticism, of this approach. This is your last reminder to send in your forecasts for the Jan 1 Gram. ==================================================== Mail Call ---------------------------------------------------- Dear Gram, I agree with Harold's comments regarding gram getting "too commercial." By the time I get done looking through all the sales ads, I am tired. If it gets worse, I'm afraid, I'll have to start doing to the gram, what I do, with rest of the commercial spam I get... That magical button marked DELETE.. I recommend one gram a week with a classified section. If that works for Sales, it would also work for Want Lists for collectors. Happy New Year, Phil IWANTMYMPC ==================================================== Departments --------------------------------------------------- WWII numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar 2001 --------------------------------------------------- Not only does the scholarship fund have an official identity but also has a bank account! Any further donations should be paid to the order of "Military Numismatists Scholarship" and sent to: Military Numismatists c/o Marcus Turner 8103 East US Highway 36 Suite 163 Avon, IN 46123 THE UPDATED LIST OF SCHOLARSHIP BENEFACTORS 11/22/00 Mike Cummings Ed B. Doug Bell R. A. Medina Harold MPCKid Kroll Bill McNese Marcus Turner Larry Ski Fred PK6 Joel Shafer World Wide Ventures John & Nancy Wilson Neil Shafer ----------------------------------------------------- MPC Fest II ----------------------------------------------------- MPC Fest is the annual feast of MPC. After some difficulties of coordination we have not changed the dates and tentatively scheduled 9-11 March 2001 for MPC Fest II. If these dates cause a problem, please write the gram immediately. ==================================================== Post/Base Exchange (PX/BX/NEX) Dump your dupes! Your classified advertisement for items for sale 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. Send in a list of items for sale and we will list them here in the gram. In all cases confirm your order via email first. MPC Series 472 25c CU, $180, David Seelye, coinman@rochester.rr.com. MPC Series 641 $10 with flipper serial number (the number is still a number when held upside down) f-vf, $22. verify at fred@papermoneyworld.com. ============================================== Staff: publisher and editor: Fred Schwan - fred@papermoneyworld.com; assistant editor - Phil Goldstein critic: Harold Kroll - MPCKid@papermoneyworld.com; index manager: Ed Beaman webmaster & technical advisor: Doug Bell - (Wiz): doug@papermoneyworld.com; 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!? Yahoo! Photos - Share your holiday photos online! http://photos.yahoo.com/