Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web5205.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.86]) by strange.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id tks19t.eu2.37kbi0u for ; Thu, 12 Jul 2001 16:14:53 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010712201451.2372.qmail@web5205.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [152.163.207.202] by web5205.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Thu, 12 Jul 2001 13:14:51 PDT Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 13:14:51 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 391 thur 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 391 Thurski, July 12, 2001 Wedding Bells for Ski by Larry "Ski" Smulczenski I am writing this column while in Austin, Texas. My wife and I are here to marry off our youngest daughter and last unmarried child. Those of you Gramsters that have had a similar opportunity know what a crimp an event like this puts in you bank note collecting budget. Those of you who haven't had the pleasure of marrying off a child, just wait, your turn will come, and then you too can say, "Golly, I could have bought a set of those 641 progressive proofs and still had money left over for what this evening is costing me." Yes, believe me, you sure could have, that is, if you could have found a set for sale. On the other hand, it sure is a happy feeling to know it is the last one I'll have to pay for and it's time for her leave the nest as she is 25 and very capable of taking care of a new household. While Mom and daughter have been out wrapping up last minute wedding details, I got terribly tired listening to all the girl talk, so I decided to take a trip to San Antonio to visit with Ric Medina at the Lone Star Coin Shop. I got there around noon and as usual the shop was experiencing a steady flow of customers, some selling, some buying. I was amazed to see the number of folks that came through the door to buy the statehood quarters. Some wanted the old ones while others wanted only the latest ones released and a few even asked for the ones that hadn't been released. As usual, Ric had a little pile of things that he thought I might like put aside for me. There were other things that he had acquired and wanted to show me, but always with the caveat that those were for his collection and there was no way I was leaving with them. The first thing that caught my eye was a chit printed in red on cream colored stock from Aore Island. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Aore Island, it was a naval base during WWII, right across the bay from Espiritu Santo. This particular chit was from the Fleet Recreation Center. I have two other chits from Aore Island in my collection but this one was not have a monetary denomination like the ones I had. This one stated "Good for one ice cream" and was dated "Invalid after Dec. 31, 1943." Can you imagine, here the war in the South Pacific was raging and up steps this combat weary Marine with his chit for an ice cream on a stick. Ric had one of these beauties for me, but then he showed me another, printed in green from the same location. This one stated "Good for one beer." Now that I can believe. That Marine wanting a cool one after weeks of furious combat, but I just can't picture him with that ice cream bar melting and running down his hands in the South Pacific heat. Unfortunately, the beer chit goes into Ric's collection. Another piece that caught my eye, was an empty envelope. I keep telling folks that I don't collect stamps or covers but again, this was exceptional. Unfortunately, I couldn't talk Ric out of this one either. This was a business size envelope with a penalty clause printed in the stamps position. An 8 cent green air mail stamp with a twin engine aircraft was pasted over the clause. It was neatly canceled with a Hearne, Texas postmark from May 11, 1945. The return address in the upper left corner reads, "War Department, Prisoner of War Camp Exchange, Hearne, Texas, Official Business." Many of us collect POW chits from the camps here in the United States, but here is envelope from one of the camp exchanges where these chits could be used. There are many POW letters around that were written by prisoners to relatives back home, but this is the first I have seen from a camp exchange. What a great piece of ephemera for a POW chit collection. In Memphis this year, Ric had given me a little 16 page booklet, measuring 3 inches by 4 inches, entitled simply "North Africa". It was prepared in order to give the troops a general background of the area in which the would be fighting. I specifically states that if asked "Why have you come?" the answer is a straight-forward and simple, "...to drive out the common enemy." It talks about the British and French allies, the geography, hygiene, venereal disease, the native population, and money. Although the page on venereal disease is interesting, the one on money opens with a real interesting statement. It says "You will paid in overprinted (special) U.S. currency. This money will be redeemable at face value for regular U.S. currency if you leave the country. However, for any purchases you may wish to make locally it will be necessary for you to change your pay to the currency of the country. The rate of exchange will be fixed and controlled." WOW! What is that little book trying to tell us? Was there at one time a plan to overprint the North African currency similar to the way the Hawaiian currency was overprinted. Could it be that the Bureau just ran out of time to overprint these notes because of an urgent need for the currency? Or did the editor of this little pamphlet just get the facts confused? You guess is as good as mine. The page on money in the pamphlet concludes with "In the French colonies of North Africa, the monetary system is based on the 'Franc' -- one franc is equivalent to 100 'centimes.' However, you will find little to purchase in these countries, for as a result of war, stocks of supplies have been reduced to the vanishing point. You will need very little money, and the best plan is to make an allotment covering at least 75% of your pay either to your dependents or to a bank at home. Did you know that if you are captured or reported missing your allotment will continue to be paid?" Isn't that interesting and thought provoking? I have never made an uninteresting trip to Lone Star Coins in San Antonio. =============================================== Editorial ----------------------------------------------- Ski's column above reminded me of a long stored memory. When I was in Vietnam (1971-72) I was fortunate in many ways. One was that occassionaly I was able to go to Saigon. Sometimes this was on business, other times not. Anyway, I made a point to go to the USO office there where I bought (with MPC of course, well I think/assume MPC, now I am not certain) a large butter scotch ice cream cone. It was great, no wonderful. Always I got butterscotch! Wish that I had a chit for the cone, but I was happy to have the ice cream! From experience, I expect that Howard Daniels will be able to tell us some amazing details about that USO if not about the butterscotch ice cream! ============================================== Mail Call ----------------------------------------------- Bill, I am sure that everyone will be happy to tell you about your overprinted notes. They are private postwar overprints produced by the Japanese War Notes Claimants Association of the Philippines Inc. in an unsuccessful attempt to get the United States to redeem the Japanese invasion money. They come in different colors, shapes, sizes and fonts. I do not specialize in them, but I have 8 varieties. I am sure there are many more. Herb Hi Fred, Just wanted to inform you that I received a few lots won from Smythe's mail bid section of their Memphis auction. One was Lot #6316, 2 BMA notes, a 2/6 and 5/, and both with X's on them. The 2/6 has them at lower left and upper right, the 5/ has both at upper positions left and right. Both are nice Unc. notes, so they appear to have been "issued." No indication of Specimen. Were they actually issued? Or do they represent something else? S-B seems a bit equivocal on the point. What have you learned/seen since publication of the book? Neil S. Dear Gram, How do I get some of the Series 002, ANA stamped series 011, training money etc? David Dear David, Series 002 MFC had a record short run for MFC (or MPC). It was discontinued because of counterfeits. The only way to get these notes now is in the secondary market. We have heard of one sale after the close of the seminar, but even that is unconfirmed. I suspect that the best source of 002, 002 training notes, and surcharged 011 notes is from seminarians. Hopefully, anyone who has any for sale will send a notice to the gram. We will certainly gladly run the notices in the PX. Editor ================================================ Departments --------------------------------------------------- Calendar of events for Gramsters maintained by Howard Daniel, John Wilson and Gram staff ---------------------------------------------------- June 28-July 1, 2001, Mid America Coin Expo, Sponsored by Numismatic News, Rosemont Convention Center, Rosemont, IL Auction by B & M - No paper money. About 125 tables July 5-8, 2001, Clearwater Coin Show, Clearwater, FL Over 100 tables July 13-15, 2001, Eastern States Numismatic Expo, Brandywine Terrace, Claymont / Wilmington, DE Probably over 100 tables August 2-5, 2001, 42nd Blue Ridge Numismatic Association, Dalton, GA (about one hour drive from the ANA Atlanta convention the following week) Over 150 Dealers Auction by Lucien Birkler, Washington, D.C. from M & M August 4-5, 2001 Meridian Area Coin Club Coin & Currency Show, Howard Johnson Inn, Meridian, MS August 7-12, 2001, ANA Convention at the Cobb Galleria Center, Atlanta, GA AUGUST 16-19. 2001, 41st Missouri Numismatic Society Coin Festival, Hilton St. Louis Airport St. Louis, MO August 17-19, 2001, Ohio Coin Expo, Cleveland, OH, 125 tables, August 23-26, 2001, CSNS Fall Convention hosted by the MSNS in Dearborn, MI Auction by NTL/Scotsman Coins, Hyatt Regency Dearborn August 23-25, 2001, New England Coin Expo, Holiday Inn, Mansfield, MA, 130 tables August 25-26, 2001, Golden State Coin Show, CSNS 109th Convention & NASC Masonic Temple Arcadia, CA August 31-Sept. 1-2, 2001, Ohio State Coin Show, Columbus Ohio Host CNS/COINS, Marriott North World Paper Money Fair, run by London Chapter of IBNS October 6/7, 2001 Spink Auction October 5, 2001 Phillips Auction October 4, 2001 My London Paper Money Fairs are: July 15/September 2/November 18, 2001 Important 2002 events Lyn Kinght auction of Leo May collection, Chicago, Feb 2002 ANA spring show, Jacksonville FL, 7-9 March 2002. EXHIBIT APPLICATION DEADLINE 11 FEB 2002. [Joe Boling, John and Nancy Wilson confirmed in attendance] MPCFest III, Port Clinton, Ohio March 2002 WWII numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar, July 2002 ANA summer show, New York City, 30 July-4 August 2002. EXHIBIT APPLICATION DEAD LINE 3 JUN 2002. --------------------------------------------------- Donations are now being accepted for scholarships to the 2002 "Military Money" course at the 2002 ANA Summer Seminar. Inquiries and donations should be sent to: Military Numismatists c/o Marcus Turner 8103 East US Highway 3 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/