Status:  U
Message-ID: <20010428164027.2813.qmail@web5201.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2001 09:40:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: MPCgram <mpcgram@yahoo.com>
Subject: MPCGram 323
To: MPCGram@yahoo.com
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

====================================================  
                     MPC Gram
====================================================  
Covering the Entire World of Military Numismatics
----------------------------------------------------
Series 002-Number 323       Saturday, April 28, 2001

             Have You Ben Challenged? 

By Harold “MPC Kid” Kroll

  Over past years a tradition was started, where or
how I have no clue. As I understand it works like
this. You are in a club, bar or whatever, either by
yourself or with a group. Someone in the group reaches
in his or her pocket and produces a "CHALLENGE" coin
or medal (they are not really coins afterall). All the
rest of the group has to produce the same and the
person or persons who cannot have to buy a round of
drinks for everyone. If there were six people and 5
produced the challenge coin, you could be buying
drinks all night as each one would do the same thing
to you until you came up with yours, or decided to
leave. This was quite popular with service personnel
and kept everybody on their toes so to 
speak. 
  At the "Next Fest 2001," all who attended this event
was given a MPC Challenge coin, for helping with the
event, show and tell, and various other merits. The
challenge was made several times at the Fest, but it
was fresh in the Festers minds and all were aware of
the coin and its consequences. 
 The obverse of the coin was minted using design
consisting of an eagle and stars with the flag in the
background. The reverse having the Fest information,
location, date, etc. These coins were available in
copper, bronze and a limited mintage in silver. Some
are still for sale. 
  On the return trip home, I challenged Larry several
times and he was always able to produce his coin, once
he invoked a 3 step rule on me, I thought what is
this. He explained that the challenged person had the
opportunity to take 3 steps to get his or her coin
from a coat pocket, dresser top, or? This was a new
wrinkle that I had not known and I had to accept his
right to do so. Needless to say he never had to buy a
drink, although he did anyway. He has stated its going
to be hard to catch him without his challenge coin, we
will see what happens in the future on this. 
  The coin slid out of my pocket several times when I
would sit in a chair and especially the recliner. I
decided to drill a hole in it and put on my key ring.
Doing this accomplished 2 things, keeping track of the
coin was easy and it would be with me all the time.
This proved out to be a very good move 
on my part. 
  By now most of you know that several of us traveled
to Europe and attended the Maastricht Paper Money Show
in the Netherlands. Larry has done an excellent job of
reporting about the events that took place and the
finds of some great notes. While the 3 of us, Larry,
Marcus and myself, were at the train station trying to
figure out which train to take to get to the museum, I
reached in my pocket and pulled out my Challenge coin.
Larry got a big grin on his face as he was ready for
the challenge and showed his coin. Marcus stood there
for a few seconds with a far away look and then smiled
and said, OH NO!, I've been had. Five days to go and
no challenge coin, it did cost him for not bringing
his coin with him and we enjoyed it. On the second day
in Valkenburg I challenged David, but he surprised me
with his coin, although he had the copper coin, I'm
not sure it was OK, have to get a clarification on
this. 
  Jack lippincott was supposed to arrive when Marcus
and David did, but he became ill and could not make
the trip. Well Saturday morning he arrives with his
wife looking to be in great spirits and very excited
about attending the show. After some discussion and
showing of notes, you know what is coming. I again
reached into my pocket and pulled out my challenge
coin. Another GOTCHA. Jack was surprised at being off
guard and he proceeded to buy a round of drinks. All
this made for very interesting conversation about the 
challenge coin, so beware. 
  Don't be surprised if some where, sometime, somehow
you are challenged. Be ready and smile while reaching
in your pocket for your challenge coin. 

====================================================
                        Editorial
----------------------------------------------------
Well, the sick disk drive came home long enough to be
sent to a specialist. It is on its way. If the MPC
book and other items are saved, it will be one
expensive project!
  Thanks for all of the cool articles and letters that
have been coming in (as above and below). Please do
keep them coming! It is your Gram, and you are doing a
Great job!
===================================================
                       Mail Call

Dear Editor,
  Fascinated to read Larry "Ski" Smulczenski's report
in Gram 321, particularly as I had heard the other
side of his encounter with the John Pettit stock at
our local chapter's IBNS meeting only the night before
(from Tony James - John Pettit was "missing in
action"). Larry mentioned the intact Fanning Island
one pound notes and noted two serial numbers not
listed in WW11 Remembered, commenting that "at least
thirteen complete notes are now known". If Larry can
refer back to Gram 165 he will find serial numbers
listed for a total of twenty-eight complete notes, to
which should be added note no. 1778 as advised in Gram
163. 
Regards, Gramme A.

Dear Gram,
  Thanks for writing. Yes, we must read and use our
gram!

Editor


===================================================
                      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 3/22/01.

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.
Many donations were received at CPMX and MPCFest. 

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, Pam West, John and
Nancy Wilson, Neil Shafer, W. E. Yanchick, Mark
Watson, Al Glaser, Phil Goldstein, Rod Hardy, Wesley
Hardy, Gary Hicks, Jack Lippincott, Ian Marshall,
Kevin Maloy, David Seelye, Nick Schrier, Elmer Smith,
Dan Swartz, Tom Warburton, Dick Freyser, Tim Kyzivat
====================================================
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

For Sale: German Konversionskasse Scrip, used to
finance the war effort and also is stated that they
were given to the Jewish people in exchange for their
money and valuables to be redeemed when they were
released. Of course we know now that this did not take
place. Choice CU 5RM 1933 Series B @65.00, Choice CU
5RM !934 Red Overprint, Series E @75.00 or the pair
for 120.00 ppd. Contact Mpckid@papermoneyworld.com 

FOR SALE: Application for U.S. Defense Savings
Bonds-Series E, Treasury Department Form PDE 1686
circa World War II, 8.5" X 5.5", AU $3.00 ppd.
frank.clark@rediform.com 

Here is what is available from MPCFest II:
Souvenir card $25 (50 produced)
Bronze “challenge coin” $5
Copper “challenge coin” $25 (silver sold out, only one
of copper available)
In addition to the above souvenirs, the following MFC
Series 011 notes are available at face value. Note,
these are NOT souvenirs as they are still current and
spendable.
  Series 011 $1, 2, 5, 10, and 20, total face value of
one set $38. Payment can be accepted by all of the
traditional means including paypal using
fred@papermoneyworld.com. Traditional paper payments
may be sent to Fred Schwan, 132 E. Second St., Port
Clinton, Oh 43452. 


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.

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