Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web12702.mail.yahoo.com ([216.136.173.239]) by farley.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id tqnssh.sdq.37kbi1c for ; Fri, 21 Sep 2001 22:12:33 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010922021232.38921.qmail@web12702.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [208.191.147.143] by web12702.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Fri, 21 Sep 2001 19:12:32 PDT Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 19:12:32 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 440/3 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 440 Friday, September 21, 2001 A Collecting (mis)Adventure by Warner Talso As you know I am a newbie in this lashup and I just learned a valuable lesson in the collecting world that I thought might be worthwhile sharing. Last week I attended an international safety conference in Huntsville, Alabama. (Getting home to Albuquerque was a whole different story.) Anyway, I looked forward to the trip because I had two tours at Redstone Arsenal and still have friends in the area. I also took a couple hours to look up the local coin shops. There are four in the yellow pages. One is in Tennessee and that was further than I wanted to drive. Two turned out to be gold and silver exchanges. The fourth, Alabama Coins, looked promising. It was a small storefront on a side street. I entered and asked the proprietor if he had any MPC. He said "yes, but I just sold it all to the guy who wrote the book". I said, "You mean Fred Schwan?" He replied, "Yeah." And then proceeded to tell me all the "good stuff" he had sold Fred - several replacements, some Unc, etc., as if to make sure I understood what a great opportunity I had just missed. Needless to say, I was disappointed. I also wanted to be mad at Fred. This was a medium-sized town off the beaten path on a small side street. The middle of nowhere (with apologies to Alabama). And Fred had ferreted out the "good stuff" (turns out at the Atlanta show). Well, being mad didn't work - I couldn't make the logic stand up. Then I read Harold Kroll's latest article about the trials and tribulations of completing his collection. And I realized that collecting is about the process and learning and enjoyment. You may win some and lose some, but you always learn something and experience enjoyment from the process. By the way, I did buy some nice JIM and AMC Marks. Now "the Rest of the Story" by Fred Schwan The story above could have been told by many of us--just missed the good stuff. It comes in many versions, but boils down to the potential seller reporting that he (she) has just sold the best material to someone else. In the best (worst) versions the sale was made to a heated rival, possibly even enemy. There is an extra twist when the buyer is a dealer so it might still be possible to buy the material but at an appropriately higher price. Of course in the case of real "cherries," the price will be appropriately--and substantially hiher! This case also illustrates another factor. The stories are often, well, exagerations. No I have not been in Alabama recently, but the fellow covered that part pointing out that the transaction was at the Atlanta ANA show. Trouble is that I was not their either! ============================================== Editorial ----------------------------------------------- In writing the little story above I had to think about the missed ANA convention (first miss since 1973). I am way behind in my reading (and most everything else too). A story in Numismatic News reported an event that would have been a headline story in the Gram if I had been in Atlanta to report. As it is now, I can only make a short report and comment. The NLG (Numismatic Literary Guild) is the hobby "club" for numismatic writers. The major activity of the organization is to recognize writers for "good works." Each year at the ANA convention the NLG holds its famous "Bash." The event is an evening of frivolity and awards. The top award of the society is the Clemy so named because the founder of the organization was Clem Baily. This year's choice as brilliant. He is a personable, young (from my outpost), yet veteran numismatist and paper money enthusiast. David Harper received the 2001 Clemy. He is known to most of you as editor of the Bank Note Reporter. While he is not busy with the BNR, he holds the same position with Numismatic News AND World Coin News. It is not particularly relavant to his numismatic pursuits, but David is (or possibly was?) mayor of Numismatic Town, Wisconsin (some call it Iola). Congratulations David! ============================================== Mail Call ----------------------------------------------- Dear Gram, Loved Herbert Friedman's article. Please forward this scan to him. This propaganda note was made by the CIA during the Gulf War. Thanks... James Dear Gram, The following are messages show my attempt to get advance reservations for ANA next year in NY and problems I encountered and ANA's response. These may be of interest since you mentioned the show in MPCGRAM435. Ray Czahor Cookie Jar Collectibles (Sept 14th) Dear ANA, I don't know if this week's disaster in New York City has affected planning for next year's annual convention. But be advised that when I and my travel agent contacted the Marriott Marquis several different times last week and today for reservations, requesting a rate for the show, both the hotel itself as well as the Mariott 1-800 number denied knowing about any show 31 Jul - 4 Aug 2002 under the name of World Fair of Money or American Numismatic Association. The best rate I could get was $284 (AAA rate) not the ANA rate of $240. Can you advise what is going on? Thank you, Ray Czahor ANA R146725 (Sept 14th) Hello Ray, We have calls in to the Marriott Marquis about any reservations problems people may be having. Understandably, they have not been quick to respond. I expect for the problems to be resolved early next week. Thank you for your patience. At this day, today, there is no anticipation of changing venues for the July 31-Aug 4 New York convention. We will be monitoring the situation closely as we watch and pray and give to those efforts in New York, DC, Virginia and PA. Thank you, Brenda Bishop, Convention Manager, American Numismatic Association 719-632-2646, ext. 168; fax: 719-634-4085; www.money.org ================================================ Departments ------------------------------------------------- Calendar of events for Gramsters maintained by Howard Daniel, Nancy and John Wilson and Gram staff, last updated September 7, 2001 show reports are requested on all events. Even if it was not a great show, there must be something to report. What and whom did you see? Market activity? Share your observations and thoughts with Gramsters everywhere. ---------------------------------------------------- September 21 - 23, 2001, Paul Padget's 18th Annual Greater Cincinnati Numismatic Exposition, Sharonville Convention Center, Small Auction by Paul Padget and major paper money auction by Currency Auctions of America contact Paul Padget at (513) 821-2143 September 21 - 23, 2001, Virginia Numismatic Association, 43rd Annual Coin Show, Northern Virginia Community College Ernst Center, Annandale, VA September 21 - 23, 2001, Bick International Expos (www.bick.net) River Palms Hotel Casino, Glendale, CA September 27 - 30, 2001, North East Ohio Coin Club, 41st Annual Show, 100 Tables, Holiday Inn, Route 82 At I-71, Strongville, OH Phillips Auction October 4, 2001 October 5-6. 2001Remy Bourne Literature Auction featuring selections from the Katen library. Contact Remy at 1/800789-7005 for information October 4 - 7, 2001, long Beach Coin and Collectible Expo Long Beach California Convention Center, 400 booths, Educational Programs, Auctions by Heritage and Ponterio Spink Auction October 5, 2001 World Paper Money Fair, run by London Chapter of IBNS, October 6/7, 2001 Special "MPC" events 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, Doug Bell, Sam Feeback, Fred Schwan {running total 16}] 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, 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 36 Suite 163 Avon, IN 46123 Donors to 2002 Scholarship Fund Steve Feller Harold Kroll R. A. Medina Guido Crapanzano David Seelye Steve Feller Harold Kroll R. A. Medina Guido Crapanzano David Seelye Leo May Warner Talso Marv Mericle Mark Watson ==================================================== 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 distribution manager - Brad Peacock bp22@swbell.net 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