Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web12703.mail.yahoo.com ([216.136.173.240]) by strange.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id tosipv.rng.37kbi0u for ; Thu, 30 Aug 2001 10:18:39 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010830141828.45812.qmail@web12703.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [172.160.69.37] by web12703.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Thu, 30 Aug 2001 07:18:28 PDT Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 07:18:28 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 425/3 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 425 Thurski August 30, 2001 WWII Guernsey Notes by Larry "ski" Smulcenski A set of notes that have really interested me since I began collecting military notes from around the world are the Occupation notes of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. This British dependency is a very small island located in the English Channel, a mere 30 miles off the Normandy coast. It is indeed a lot closer to the coast of France than it is to England. This series is well covered in the axis section of World War II Remembered, but since many collectors fail to "read the book" I thought I might feature these notes this week. It was during the German Occupation of 1940 to 1945 that the State Treasury issued this very interesting and relatively rare set of notes. Due to the huge influx of German occupation marks, the people hoarded local currency and did not bank their money. By 1941 the resulting shortage of small change became acute. The German Authorities allowed an initial issue of 5000 Pounds in small denomination notes, 6d, 1/3. 2/6 and 5 sh. to be printed, but they wanted an equal amount of currency withdrawn from circulation. The government had 5000 Pounds in worn and damaged Guernsey 1 Pound notes awaiting destruction, that they stamped "withdrawn" and met the German requirement. A few months later it was determined that the 5000 Pounds was inadequate and a request was made for another issue of 5000 Pounds in small denomination notes. This time the Germans insisted that the notes withdrawn from circulation be British One Pound notes. They probably had in the back of their minds using these notes for their own purposes although this is a fairly small amount. The Guernsey officials foiled this attempt by stamping the notes 'WITHDRAWN FROM CIRCULATION" along with one of two dates either 18 September 1941 or 10 November 1941 on the front and back. In the years after the war, almost all of these overprinted notes were recovered and many have been sold to collectors. The small denomination notes are printed with different dates, but I have never been able to find the printing quantities of each type note. Total quantities for each denomination are available. I have seen one figure that totals 11,767 Pounds issued since the Germans did not closely check the quanties printed.. In 1942, Guernsey officials decided that there was a need for a 1 shilling note. This was achieved by overprinting a 1/3 note with a red 1/ denomination. All these notes were printed by the Guernsey Press Co. Ltd. In 1943, in preparation for a possible end of the war, 88,000 ten shilling notes and 180,000 one pound notes dated 1 January 1943 were secretly printed. However they were not released to circulation until Liberation Day, May 9, 1945. All these notes were withdrawn from circulation by the end of 1945. I think the tie-in between the "Withdrawn" British One Pound notes and the Occupied Guernsey notes is an interesting story. Likewise the small number of the Occupied Guernsey notes issued and for the 10 shilling and one pound note the short time in service, explain why they are not common in dealer inventories. They are moderately expensive, but are indeed a nice addition to any collection. ============================================== Editorial ----------------------------------------------- In 1960 my mother took me to my first coin shop in downtown Toledo, Ohio. It was a small, dirty place. It was one the second floor of a run down building in a poor neighborhood. The store was decidedly unorganized. I was 12 years old and thought that it was heaven. The rage of the time was 1960 small date cents. At the shop I saw my first Philadelphia small dates. I must have had something like three dollars to spend. I bought worn United States two and three cent pieces. It was a difficult decision because the fellow had a very worn, and holed, 1798 large that that I thought was wonderful, but I could not afford all three pieces. Somehow within a few days, possibly weeks, I was able to afford the 1798 cent. I really loved that coin. I still have it—somewhere. While at the shop an adult customer looked at a gold type set. I was truly amazed. When I got home my father showed and years later gave me an 1851 one dollar gold piece that he had recovered from the trap of a cleaning machine in the 1930s. I still have the coin, and more importantly I still have an interest in gold dollars. Before that trip to Toledo, my mother (and father too), had encouraged my collecting interests in other ways. Unfortunately, the concept of a coin show was unknown to me and I think to them too. I did not attend my first show until 1970 and although I was excited, it did not match that trip in 1960. At that first show I bought a few gold coins fulfilling a fantasy that started that day in 1960 with my mother. She left us on August 25th after a relatively short illness. During that illness I neglected and abused many of you. I seldom returned calls, did not answer mail nor even send out many paid orders. I knew that you would understand and forgive me, but I am sorry that it happened. Even during the relatively few hours that were available for such activities over the past three months, I was not motivated for routine and clerical tasks. Even today with tears on the keyboard, I am only slightly interested in this work, but I am starting and expect to start working on the back log. It will certainly take some time and I will have to count on your further indulgence, but we will make it. Thank you very much for your stated and implied help in so many ways. There are some lessons from this experience that I would like to share with you. 1. encourage kids to collect 2. spend quality time with your parents 3. quit smoking or do not stop and encourage others to do the same ============================================== Mail Call ----------------------------------------------- Editor, I have not received the Gram since August 25. William Dear William, Thanks for writing. Yours is one of several inquiring about the gram. We hope to be back on schedule now. Editor ================================================ Departments --------------------------------------------------- Calendar of events for Gramsters maintained by Howard Daniel, John Wilson and Gram staff, last updated August 17, 2001 ---------------------------------------------------- Calendar of events for Gramsters maintained by Howard Daniel, John Wilson and Gram staff, last updated August 17, 2001 ---------------------------------------------------- Calendar of events for Gramsters maintained by Howard Daniel lll, John & Nancy Wilson and Gram staff ---------------------------------------------------- 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 September 13 - 16, 2001 - Strasburg Currency and Stock & Bond Show, Lancaster Host Hotel, Lancaster, PA.,100 Booths, Exhibits and Educational Programs, Auction by: R. M. Smythe & Co., Inc., Contact Kevin Foley (414) 421-3498 September 15 - 16, 2001 - Red Rose Coin Club 43rd Annual Fall Show, Lancaster, PA., Exhibits CPMX, Chicago Feb 28- Mar 3, 2002 - Contact Kevin Foley, Chairman, Lyn Knight auction of Leo May collection March 2002 8-10 - MPCFest III [reservations in order received: Guido Crapanzano, Harold Kroll, Larry Smulczenski, Gary "Got any fours" Hicks, Tom Warburton, David Seelye, Jack Lippincot, Phil Goldstein, Warner Talso, Nich Schrier, Tom Koch, Mark Watson, Bill Yanchick, Fred Schwan {running total 14}] W.W.II numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar, July 2002 -Session I (Sunday, June 30 through Thursday, July 4, 2002) -Session II (Sunday, July 7 through Thursday, July 11)--------------------------------------------------- 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 36 Suite 163 Avon, IN 46123 Donors to 2002 Scholarship Fund Steve Feller Harold Kroll R. A. Medina Guido Crapanzano David Seelye ==================================================== 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 Series 661 $5.00 GEM Crisp Unc $25.00 insured postpaid. Series 481 $0.25 1st printing Crisp UNC $60.00 insured postpaid. coinman@rochester.rr.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 - MPCGram@Yahoo.com; assistant editor - Phil Goldstein IWANTMYMPC@aol.com Tuesday columnist Joe Boling – JoeBoling@aol.com Thurski columnist Larry “Ski” Smulczenski –skifla@prodigy.net critic: Harold Kroll - MPCKid@AOL.com; index manager: Ed Beaman webmaster & technical advisor: Doug Bell - (Wiz): doug@papermoneyworld.net; 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 alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com