Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web12705.mail.yahoo.com ([216.136.173.242]) by strange.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id touk4s.cva.37kbi0u for ; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 04:53:48 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010831085246.82958.qmail@web12705.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [208.191.148.16] by web12705.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 01:52:46 PDT Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 01:52:46 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 426/3 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 426 Friday August 31, 2001 Hong Kong and other things by Joe Boling As I write this I am a day away from heading to Hong Kong to watch my collection be sold. I hope I come back next week feeling rich (or at least out of debt--that would certainly be a rich feeling.) I have been watching the yen slowly climbing (about 4% in the past month), a good event for me because it makes the dollar cheaper for Japanese buyers. I have not been watching the Taiwan yuan--there are also some pieces there of great interest to Taiwanese collectors. It will be interesting to see where the material goes (if I can even tell, from watching the sale). My next column will talk about the HK visit (but it may be delayed a day or two, as I return on Labor Day). A few responses to the Thursday gram: Ski gave a review of the History Channel show on counterfeiting. Those marking pens that clerks use on high denomination bills are not checking for the rag content of the paper, but for the composition of the sizing used on the paper. Sizing is a treatment that makes the paper ready to accept printing or other surface treatments. It is what makes the paper seem to have crackle and body. Unsized paper is quite soft and limp (like newsprint, which may nevertheless bear some sort of sizing). Ordinary bond papers, even the high-rag-content premium papers, are sized with starchy materials. US currency paper is sized with a recipe of animal fat and glycerine. The pen is testing for starch. Remember chewing starchy materials in junior high school and then testing the glop with iodine to see if the starch had been transformed to sugar by sufficient saliva? Same principle. If starch is present, the pen's ink turns gray-blue. When I bought travelers checks at AAA this week, the clerk checked every $100 note with one of those pens. Problem is: it only works on counterfeits made by amateurs. Supernotes are printed on paper using non-reactive sizing. The case of "The Magician" is the subject of a movie by the same name, not to be confused with Ingmar Bergman's 1958 film, also of the same title. Those of us without cable will have to rely on Ski's reviews of such shows. I got tired of TCI jerking me around and cancelled my cable in Jan 1999. I've barely missed it. The deadline for determining the format of next year's ANA summer seminar course on military numismatics is upon us. ANA has to publish the catalog, and decisions will be made very soon. If others of you have thoughts to contribute, get them submitted immediately. [editor's note: this Boling cloumn was burried so deep in the accumulated emails that I did not see it So, instead of Joe stiffing me/us for a column, I stiffed him by running it a few days late. At about the time that I am preparing this, the auction is finishing. I am excited to hear the results and reports of other adventures from Joe!] ============================================== Editorial ----------------------------------------------- I was certainly personall heartened by the many kind emails from Gramsters about the passing of my mother. Thank you. We have a long way to go just to catch up on news and views delayed for the past week, but I want to share one more part of the story abut my mother. Two Gramsters attended the various functions. In addition one of these Gramsters won two "drinks" by presenting his MPC "coin" at the post funeral reception and yes one of the drinks was from me! (This is the second time that I have been "caught." It is also the last!). ============================================== Mail Call ----------------------------------------------- Dear Gram, This MPC Gram has deleated the Virginia Numismatic Associations annual show on Sept. 21-23 in Annandale at the Norhern Virginia Community College. Please relist it as all are welcome. Thank you, Steve Ellsworth VNA Pres. PS. If anyone would would like an exhibit application, let me know. Dear Steve, If we put it back in, do you promise a show report? MPC on the floor? Collectors in atendance, etc.? Smile. Editor Dear Gram, I have not received a gram since last Friday. What is wrong? What is the status of the new MPC Book? George F Dear George, We have been sruggleing with the book, but hope to have the editoial work done withing two weeks. 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 692 $20.00 replacement pin holes VF $425.00 postpaid insured. Series 641 $10.00 replacement pin holes VF $225.00 postpaid insured, 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