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 tr7o9r.8f9.37kbi0u for ; Thu, 27 Sep 2001 22:32:27 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010928023227.69794.qmail@web12703.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [208.191.147.143] by web12703.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Thu, 27 Sep 2001 19:32:27 PDT Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 19:32:27 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 446/3 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 446 Thurski, September 27, 2001 Collecting Counterfeit Notes the Hard Way by Larry "Ski" Smulczenski Boy was I ever embarrassed yesterday. I have always prided myself and told lots of folks that no one would ever be able to pass a counterfeit bill off on me. After all, I've collected paper money for more than 35 years and examined thousands of notes. I felt I knew the difference between a good note and a phony. And I still do, but the secret is you have to look at the money you handle. Just because somebody you know hands you money, don't think it will always be good. Here is my story. A couple of days each week, I go down to the neighborhood flower shop and do their deliveries for them. It gets me out of the house, gives the wife her space and is a pleasant experience in that 99.9 per cent of the people are happy to see you and receive their flowers. I enjoy driving around and there is absolutely no pressure involved. Yesterday, as it approached 3 PM, I had a couple of deliveries to Eglin Air Force Base which is just a couple of miles from us. Since Black Tuesday in New York and Washington, Eglin as well as most military installations, has been on increased alert status. ID cards are checked everywhere and no one can park within 100 feet of a major building. Makes delivering a little more difficult and at times I find myself parking a couple of blocks from my destination. Additionally, many of the civilian employees are on flex time so that the huge influx of cars that arrive at the beginning of the work day and need their ID's checked are spread out over a couple of hours. Three o'clock was the end of the first shift and I needed to get these delivers made. But as fate would have it, Terri, the owner asked me to run to the bank and get her some change. The bank is only about three blocks away, so I grabbed the hundred that she was holding and drove to the bank. I tossed the bill on the seat beside me. As I stopped at the drive thru, I told the cashier that I needed 50 ones, 8 five's and a roll of quarters for the store and reached over, grabbed the bill and stuck it into the sliding tray that projects from the cashiers window. Nothing happened for a couple of minutes. That was strange. Then I saw the cashier talking to her supervisor. Oh. Oh. Something was wrong. They both came to microphone and I was told I had given them a counterfeit note. The cashier had checked it with one of those counterfeit detection pens and they showed me the results. I asked to see the bill and they refused as they wanted to preserve any fingerprints that might be on it. This is a small town, and we all were familiar with one another, so they didn't ask for any identification but told me that they were confiscating the bill. I said I understood and drove back to tell Terri the sad story. She was flabbergasted. It took me 30 minutes to make the deliveries on Eglin and then I returned to the shop the cops were already there. Terri remembered the guy with the hundred coming in and buying a small stuffed animal toy for $8.95 and paying with the hundred. Since there were several other customers in the store at the time, she just made change and put the bill the cash register. Believe it or not, there was one of those counterfeit detection pens laying on the register. She was just in too much of a hurry to use it. After I gave them my statement, we talked about phony money and naturally I had to ask to see the note. Again I was told that I couldn't handle the note, but he would lie it on the counter and we could look at it. He went to the car and came in with a couple of envelopes. He had not one but two notes that he placed on the counter. There they were--two identical scanned and computer printed one hundred dollar bills. Even the serial numbers were the same. The other one came from the hardware store up the street where the guy pulled the same scam. He bought a hammer for $9.99 and paid with the phony. They were good copies but there were no watermarks or thread and the color changing ink didn't change. I didn't have a glass with me so I don't know if the microprinting was there or not. As I said, I didn't get to touch it again so I can't vouch to the quality of the paper, but we should have caught it. The main thing is that you have to look at it. We take things for granted and are very complacent in our everyday lives. That's what cost a lot of people their lives on September 11. I kept asking myself, "Why didn't I look? I know that by that time it was too late, since the criminal had already passed the bill. Maybe the real answer is that I have to give the girls a lesson on currency identification so that this can't happen again. But believe me it will haunt me forever. ============================================== Editorial ----------------------------------------------- Wow, did Ski's story open my eyes. Basically I have always figured that advanced collectors would not be fooled by simple (or any) circulating counterfeits. Larry is absolutely correct, one must look at the note! We have received a report from the proffesional currency [sic] dealers association that a counterfeit money order was sued for a numismatic transaction. Furthermore, we have another similar report from a Gramster. When we get the OK from that person, we will run his story. ============================================== Mail Call ----------------------------------------------- Dear Gram. It has been a long time since I have written anything to the Editor (Gram) because of changing jobs mostly. I am still looking for a wrapper for the 661 $1.00 if anyone has one. I was in NYC for the attack and originally had reservations to stay in the Marriott World Trade Center. That changed at the last minute. My boss had a meeting scheduled at 0730 in the South Tower on the 70th floor on that day but it cancelled the night before. Not enough room to explain what happened and how we were held hostage on Manhatten for three days. All the bridges and tunnels were closed. We are thankful to be alive and grieve for those lost. I was the first corporate airplane out of the area and that too is a long story. Hope to see everyone at the Fest. ================================================ 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 27 - 30, 2001, North East Ohio Coin Club, 41st Annual Show, 100 Tables, Holiday Inn, Route 82 At I-71, Strongville, OH [Leo May will have a table at this show] 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 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 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!? Listen to your Yahoo! Mail messages from any phone. http://phone.yahoo.com