Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web5205.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.86]) by niles.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id tab48j.n4d.37kbi1o for ; Tue, 6 Mar 2001 20:38:27 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <20010307013723.12592.qmail@web5205.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [205.188.197.158] by web5205.mail.yahoo.com; Tue, 06 Mar 2001 17:37:23 PST Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2001 17:37:23 -0800 (PST) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 274 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 274 Tuesday 6 March 2001 CPMX '01 by Joe Boling This was my first Chicago paper money expo (I went to the CICF a couple of times when I lived in Indianapolis). I was there because an IBNS board meeting had been scheduled for Saturday night (it lasted four hours). Not having known what time the board meeting would be when I bought my ticket; I spread the visit out over four days. That left me plenty of time to make my way around the floor on Friday and Saturday. The show was divided into two ballrooms, with two doors connecting them, one at each end. I did not get into the second room until my second day (I did not pay the $25 early-bird fee, since I did not arrive until the last hour of the day on Thursday). Bright and early Friday I was ready to go, but had to wait until the general public hours, not having a bourse table. I noticed immediately that Tom Denly had a new sign up--Jennifer's Notes instead of Denly's of Boston. When inquired, I was told that the show staff instigated that practical joke. Not a joke were the empty tables--many of them in both rooms. I assume they were last-minute cancellations, else they should not even have been placed on the floor, but I did not inquire and nobody mentioned their status. I did not buy much at this show, but I did pick up a couple of interesting Italian counterfeits (I collect fakes, of which I have a sizable holding). One is a series 1943 50 lire raised expertly to 500 lire--even to changing the color of the note from blue to green by use of some sort of yellow wash on the major sections of blue. It is not as bold as the original 500 lire green color, but it is certainly a valiant effort to make the piece as close to the genuine as possible. The other is a 1947 1000 lire note, an oversized brown piece, Pick 72c. The paper has an apparently genuine watermark, yet the note is listed by serial number in a 1949 letter of transmittal from the Padua branch of the Bank of Italy. The presswork does look pretty shoddy, but not having a "genuine" piece in hand, I can't say whether it is normal or not. Apparently the bank did not think so. I am awaiting a genuine example so that I can compare them. Guido Crapanzano, a noted Italian collector and president of the IBNS, does not know of any instance of genuine paper being stolen and used to produce counterfeits, yet he says that the quality of the printing on this piece is far below par. I wonder if is a production anomaly that was unjustly condemned. If so, it is a great addition to my collection of fakes. (I have a similar transmittal letter listing a 1000 lire AMC note that I have--several such letters and their attached notes came on the market in the mid-1980s.) I acquired another piece for my position 8 set of MPC - a nice unc 681 $5. David Seelye looked through a large stack of 691 $20 and $1 "evidence" notes for an 8, but found none. (These are the pieces that were stamped as evidence by the CID in the '70s and then apparently left behind when the US pulled out of Vietnam; they are now coming out of VN in some quantity.) Also purchased were two propaganda leaflets based on US notes. One is a 1928C $2 bill serial B67336096A, SB-listed with an Italian back, but not with an Arabic message on the back such as this one has. The other is an anti-Semitic piece (SB402, page 398), but uniface--only the text message is present. The collector (or someone before him) photographed another copy of the leaflet that included the note illustration on the back, and made a photographic print of that note, which he then glued to the blank back of the leaflet, thereby completing said leaflet. This is not the original pasteup from which the leaflets were produced, because the photo print depicts a screened image of the original note; if this were original artwork, there should not be a screen on the image. Another purchase is a Royal Australian Army Pay Corps note for 10 shillings, marked "facsimile currency for training purposes only." I thought I had a nice find, but Fred tells me that there are many of these presently available. Phooey. The next column will be after the MPC Fest. I will be at the ANA convention in Salt Lake City, being chief judge. Have a good time without me. ==================================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- May, Kroll, and Smulczenski are at the Fest site having come directly from the CPMX (see above). First of all, they say that the actual site is MUCH better than last year. The accommodations are nice if not luxurious, but the best part is the meeting room. It is quite wonderful. We have conducted the first reenactment of the Fest. Ski was General Ike and I played the weather officer giving the briefing before the D-Day invasion (does anyone recall the name of this weatherman?). Just as in 1944, we determined that there is going to be a short but very significant break in the weather. This will allow for a great Fest and General Ikski said, "well then, let's Fest!" =================================================== Mail Call --------------------------------------------------- Dear Festers, Have a great time! This is Steve writing to you from the national research city of Japan--Sukuba. This is a planned city created thirty five years ago. It has 200,000 people--many involved in research and development. Sounds like you are making marvelous discoveries on MPC. Have you applied your talents to AMC recently? I'm sure lots will be discovered in AMC. Best, Steve =================================================== 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 3/5/01. These folks have generously provided money or material to finance scholarships to the ANA WWII Numismatics seminar. Your contributions will help promote collecting WWII material and be greatly appreciated. Mr. Anonymous Donor Mike Cummings Sue and Keith Bauman Ed B. Doug Bell Tom Denly, Denly's R. A. Medina Harold MPCKid Kroll Leo "Paymaster" May Mrs. R.C. Matherne Bill McNease Mel and Jeremy Steinberg Marcus Turner Larry Ski Guido Fred PK6 Joel Shafer World Wide Ventures John & Nancy Wilson Neil Shafer W. E. Yanchick ----------------------------------------------------- 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. Confirmed participants in MPC Fest II Doug Bell, Sam Feeback, Al Glaser, Phil Goldstein, Rod Hardy, Wesley Hardy, Gary Hicks, Harold Kroll, Jack Lippincott, Ian Marshall, Larry Smulczenski, Bill McNease, Leo May, Kevin Maloy, Marv Mericle, Bruce Potter, David Seelye, Nick Schrier, Fred Schwan, Elmer Smith, Dan Swartz, Warner Talso (and Jane), Marcus Turner, Tom Warburton, William E Yanchick, Dick Freyser (We are well past last year's participation level. We have doubled that level. Can we triple it, more? If you have made a reservation and your name does not appear above, please contact the gram immediately (MPCgram@yahoo.com). PayPal and PayDirect are available, the associated email address is fred@papermoneyworld.com. It works great. We love it. A copy of the schedule of events and other particulars is available from MPCGram@yahoo.com. Remarks: registration is $189. This includes two nights lodging (double occupancy, room assignments by first sergeant the only possible exception is married couples), Meals as indicated (Friday evening not included), equipment and amenities. The value of souvenirs and goodies distributed will likely exceed the cost of the entire Fest. Reservations accepted now at MPCGram@yahoo.com, deposits ($50 minimum) accepted at MPC Fest, 132 East Second Street, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. Confirmed reservations will be listed daily in the gram—make your reservations now! Additional information; the Holiday Inn Express is located at 50 NE Catawba Road, Port Clinton, Oh 43452, you may use one of the online map services to get exact driving directions. DO NOT make your own reservations or inquiries. The best airports in order of distance are Toledo (45 mins), Cleveland (90 mins), Detroit (100 mins). We will try to coordinate ground transportation, but there are no guarantees here. Questions: send your questions to MPCgram@yahoo.com. In most cases the questions will be answered in the letters section of the gram. After all, if you have the question, someone else probably does too. ==================================================== 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. FOR SALE MPC Series 641 50c CU $21, David Seelye, email for confirmation coinman@rochester.rr.com. US military chits: NCO & EM Open Mess/Cam Ranh Bay 96312 $10 booklet covers with one each 5, 10, 25 (canceled) chits, $35, email for confirmation iam@total.net WANTED 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. This is a trial, if you like it, send your list. =================================================== Staff: publisher and editor: Fred Schwan - fred@papermoneyworld.com; assistant editor - Phil Goldstein IWANTMYMPC@aol.com 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!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/