Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web5201.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.95]) by tyner.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id tjg4sl.lik.37kbi5q for ; Tue, 26 Jun 2001 00:46:13 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010626044612.11604.qmail@web5201.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [64.12.104.48] by web5201.mail.yahoo.com; Mon, 25 Jun 2001 21:46:12 PDT Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 21:46:12 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 375 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 375 Monday, June 25, 2001 Proof, Specimen, Essay, and Test MPC by Fred Schwan Marcus Turner and I have been having an ongoing debate. It revolves around the unissued version of the MPC Series 692 $1 listed on page 182 of the MPC book as number 935p. Marcus objects rather strenuously to calling this note a proof. Frankly, I do not really understand his argument. There are many different kinds of proofs and the terminology is far from standard. There are artists proofs, plate proofs, partial proofs, progressive proofs, composite proofs and others. Sometimes the proofs are printed on both sides, sometimes they are not. Generally proofs do not include all of the elements of the finished note. They may have signatures or serial numbers, but seldom have both. One of the key aspects of the definition is to contrast among proofs, essays, and specimens. Specimens are fairly easy to identify even if not always easy to define. Basically a specimen is in finished format but is made as a sample for checking, education, or other administrative purposes. Most often it has serial numbers that are all zeroes or are fabricated. Clearly the note in question is not a specimen. Essays are much more difficult to define. Basically essays are unadopted notes. That would be easy except that you can have a proof of an essay. You might even have a complete specimen of an unadopted design. There is also the fine line between an adopted, but never issued design, and an unadopted design. It seems fairly clear to me that the note in question is a proof. It does not have any serial numbers. However, the colors are not the same as the issued note so there is a claim that it is an essay. It certainly is not a specimen. Marcus did some great work and found a fellow who was involved with the use of these “notes.” Based upon what this fellow told Marcus, Marcus objects to calling these pieces proofs. I think that he wants to call them “test notes.” To my way of thinking there are a few problems with this. First, “test note” is certainly not a widely accepted numismatic or even printing term. Most if not all proofs are made as some sort of “test note.” All things considered, “proof” still seems to be the best term to describe these notes. Of course I will be happy to hear other opinions and will be particularly happy to have a response from Marcus on this matter. There have been a few experimental notes in United States paper money history. Generally these were to test paper, ink, or some other technical aspect. These were finished notes with some (often subtle) distinguishing characteristic. Perhaps I have convinced you on all of the above. If so, the following might start another argument. In the new book I have actually introduced a listing for a “test note.” It is the Series 691 $1 two of which were known in private collections before the “release” of the series last year. We now know that these were taken from the stocks for testing at the BEP. They are identifiable only by serial number. These seem to meet most of the definition of test notes so I have listed them that way. I welcome your comments! =============================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- The ANA seminar is only a few days away and I am getting really excited. I am getting frantic too for all of the work that must still be done, but overall I am excited and the other seminarians seem to be as well. If you are a Fester and will be attending the seminar, please take your pay book. You will need it for identification etc. =========================================== Mail Call ----------------------------------------------- Dear Gramsters, During the recent Memphis show, I made a deal with an individual. We exchanged cards and I made sure I put that card in some secure location so I wouldn't lose it. Well, that location is so secure, that I can't figure out where it is. Therefore, I don't have your address. If you are that person, and I'm sure you remember our agreement, please email me your mailing address to skifla@prodigy.net. The current eruption of the Mount Mayon volcano that is causing grief and hardship for thousands of folks in the Philippines is a landmark that should be familiar to all World War II currency collectors. This volcano was known for its near perfect conical shape and is located about 200 miles southeast of Manila near the town of Legaspi in the southeast corner of Island of Luzon. This 8000 foot volcano is as much a tourist attraction as the famed Japanese Mt. Fujiyama. However, to the collector, it should be familiar as the vignette on a number of Philippine 20 Peso banknotes including the 20 peso note from the Victory Series. Not as well known but equally important is the 100 Peso Guerrilla note from Iloilo that shows the volcano with smoke rising from its summit. The Philippines are in that Pacific "Ring of Fire", well known for frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. It wasn't too many years ago that Mt. Pinatubo erupted and devastated Clark Air Base. --Larry "Ski" Smulczenski Dear Gram, Do you know what date the use of APO # was started? David Dear David, No. 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. David Amey, Mr. Anonymous Donor, Mike Cummings, Sue and Keith Bauman, Ed B., Doug Bell, Tom Denly, Continental Coin Invensor, Inc., Denly's, Howard Daniel, R. A. Medina, Harold “MPCKid” Kroll, Leo "Paymaster" May, Mrs. R.C. Matherne, Bill McNease, Marv Mericle, 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 Your items for sale will be listed in the Gram for FREE. Send your listings now. You items for sale support the gram by making it more interesting for everyone! For sale; Netherlands Ministerie Van Oorlog 25 Gulden Pick M3. UNC US$950.00 postpaid, registered mail. coinman@rochester.rr.com New discovery found in Memphis! Unlisted in Schwan/Boling! German Occupied Poland, 1 Punkt (Point) ration note for Vodka. http://www.papermoneyworld.com/mat/vodka.jpg $15 postage paid. Payment is by cash, personal check or paypal (until I reach my monthly receiving limit). Please reserve by e-mail at marcus@papermoneyworld.com. 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 or 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 Tuesday columnist Joe Boling – JoeBoling@aol.com Thurski columnist Larry “Ski” Smulczenski – ski@papermoneyworld.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 personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/