Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web12708.mail.yahoo.com ([216.136.173.245]) by hazard.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id ttg6h9.8fr.37kb01i for ; Thu, 25 Oct 2001 09:56:57 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20011025135656.19548.qmail@web12708.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [205.188.197.179] by web12708.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Thu, 25 Oct 2001 06:56:56 PDT Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 06:56:56 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 468/3 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 468 Thurski, October 25, 2001 Winter Arrives, Here Is Your Ski Report by Larry "Ski" Smulczenski Got to talk to Leo May in his hospital room for about a half an hour this afternoon. That is after he got one of the nurses to come in and pick up the phone from the floor that he dropped when answering my call. He really sounded very upbeat and says he is doing well, but I have to question that. Leo said that the hospital food "ain't bad" and all of you that know Leo and what a connoisseur of good food he is, would immediately question what is wrong with him if he thinks hospital food "ain't bad." Seriously, Leo has Cellulitis in one of his legs which is an infection and swelling of the skin. He said that the leg really swelled up and got very red and was very painful. They are treating him with anti-biotics. He checked in to the hospital in Lake City, Florida as he was going down to Collectorama in Lakeland. I actually passed him when I went down to that show, but didn't know he was there. I surely would have stopped in to see him had I known. Since then he was transferred to the Miami Hospital near his home. Right now, Leo doesn't know exactly when he will be released from the hospital. The doctor said it could be as soon as this Friday, Oct 26 or as late as the middle of next week. Leo wants to make sure everything is taken care of before he goes home. I know he must be feeling better, because he told the nurses that for what he was paying for the hospital room, he should have nightly dancing girls. Yesterday, two of the nurses did a little dance for him as they entered the room. I'll bet he gives them all a hard time, especially as he feels better. You have read quite a bit about the new War Bonds in the Gram. Time for me to put my two cents in about them. It appears that both the House and Senate have approved identical bills for this War Bond Legislation. If this is indeed true, there is no requirement for a committee to resolve differences and the bill can go straight to the president for signature. Then how long would it take to get these bonds on the street. The Bureau of the Public Debt said that it took the most recent new savings bond offering, the Series I bond, 18 months from inception to debut in 1998. If you remember my article on World War II Bonds, it took six months after Pearl Harbor for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to make the simple change from Defense Bonds to War Bonds. There the Defense Bonds were in production; here we have an entire new design to create. But at the same time I have to give credit to the USPS who came out with a patriotic "United We Stand" stamp six weeks after the terrorist attacks. That's not bad, maybe the bonds can also be produced in a couple of months. Leo said that he saw mockups of the bonds on a news program during his hospital stay. In fact, he said that although they were not clearly shown on the T.V., he thought that some of the vignettes looked similar to those on MPC i.e. eagles. Boy would that be a blast. I personally have not seen any projections. If any Gram reader does, let us know immediately. One of the major differences between World War II Bonds and the New War on Terrorism Bonds is the state of the economy during the two periods. During World War II, the Government wanted the people to invest their money in the war effort. Industry was concentrating on the war time production and therefore little was produced for the home front. Things were rationed and too much money in the hands of the public would cause an inflationary spiral. Therefore by saving, it was a win-win situation, the populace did not inflate prices and helped the government buy needed weapons. The situation is some what different today. Yes. the government can use the money for these multi-million dollar high tech weapons, but the economy is in the doldrums and the government would also like you to spend your money on manufactured goods and services rather than saving it. So now it's damned if you do, damned if you don't. We will just have to wait and see how this works out. War Bonds Closer--Maybe The Wednesday USAToday again had an article about Terrorism war bonds. This was the longest one yet. This time the details stated that the House had passed (or was near to passing) the war bond bill. This seems to distinguish it from the previously reported information that the Senate had passed a bill for war on drugs war bonds. The article also said that Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill is against the bonds. The given reason is that we have adequate ways for the public to buy bonds now, and that the public can do more good for the economy right now by spending on consumer goods instead of saving. Brad Peacock reported that CNN has reported about the same information as given above. He also provided this link so that you can read more non-details (but some other possibly-interesting information). more of this story at the link below. http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/10/23/rec.attacks.warbonds.ap/ Balbaton Over 1000 Dealer and Gramster Richard Balbaton is an active seller on ebay. His feedback rating has just gone over 1000! Obviously, other dealers have even higher ratings, but this is a significant milestone that seemed worthy of notice. Balbaton has also contributed many editorial items to the Gram under the name Mr. Doric. While this byline has not been seen recently, it is likely that these comments will produce some sort of response! ============================================== Editorial ----------------------------------------------- On Thursday (or was it Friday?) I made the required trip to Colin Narbeth's shop. Ah, now I remember, it was both days! On Thursday I did some heavy shopping with Larry. On Friday, Marcus and I visited but Colin had left so there was not much shopping to do, but, of course, we did find some minor adventures. By the time that the London show started on Saturday morning, it almost seemed anticlimactic with the auctions, meetings, museums, and other events that were already completed. However, that feeling went away the moment that I entered the hall (having found it easily after the recon). For American accustomed to Memphis, Chicago or even St. Louis, the show looks small and in terms of tables it is, but first impressions can be wrong! Only in Maastericht can you find more cases without a US national bank note! I scoured the floor quite well, and found some treasures, but was able to stay close to my budget! I will discuss some of the specific purchases somewhere in this tale. I am not so sure that Marcus was able to stay within his budget though. Hopefully, this will spur him to write a report of his adventures. Otherwise I will have to tell it from my view and not only am I sure to get some of the details wrong, but I am sure that he would not like his wife to read my version! ============================================== Mail Call ----------------------------------------------- Dear Gram, Leo May's phone number has THREE series ( 461, 611, and 661 )!!! Also, as a collector Egyptian notes and notes USED in Egypt, Joe Bolings one pound stamped Army Pay Office/Cairo is of great interest to me. Is it listed in WW11? Does any gramster know of any unlisted items for Egypt? Has anyone ever seen the Italian occupation notes of Egypt? ( Guido ? ) Thanks, SJ Dear MPC Gram: I would beg to disagree with your writer regarding the MPC replacement pictured in the WCN article about Costa Rica. I at first thought the same but on reading the article there was a mention of the lot containing a rare seldom seen U.S. item which I am sure both Paul & the collector had identified the 461 5c replacement as such. I also had a comment for Joe Boling on the Nazi Sachenhausen British Forgeries. I purchased in Scandanavia last year a pamphlet written by the Czech Government in the late forties about these forgeries, there production and some of there diagnostics. I had never seen or heard of this publication before & wondered if any students of this subject had seen, studied it & considered it in their research along with all the other research material available. I had 2 copies and sold the other to your esteemed editor. Ian A. Marshall Dear IAM (and Howard Daniel), What is with this esteemed business? Is that something that you do to rice? If so I hate to think how it might be applied to editors! Editor Dear Editor, In looking at the schedule of events I did not find anything about the "National and World Paper Money Convention" in St Louis, MO, November 15-18, 2001. Just thought I would let you know since MPC is usually paper money. Sid W. Dear Sid, Thank you for this "catch." This is a serious omission not only because it is a "pure" paper money show, but because it is the next such event. I may have to esteam someone over this! Editor Dear Gram, Regarding the World Coin News article and the 5 cent series 461 MPC, I sent you that information weeks ago. Joe Dear Joe, Thanks to both of you. Should I enter it in the survey twice? Editor ================================================ 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. ---------------------------------------------------- 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, Nick Schrier, Tom Koch, Mark Watson, Bill Yanchick, Doug Bell, Sam Feeback, Bruce Potter, Elmer Smith, Marv Mericle, Fred Schwan {running total 19}] 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) general events October 26-28, 2001, 23rd PAN Convention, Pittsburgh Expomart, Monroeville, PA., 140+ tables, Contact John Paul Sarosi (814) 535-5766 November 1-4, 2001, Denver Coin Expo, National Western Expo Hall, Contact Jerry Morgan, (719) 275-0585 November 8-11, 2001, Bay State Coin Show, Radisson Hotel, Boston, MA Contact Ed Aleo (781) 729-9677 November 9-11, 2001, HSNA 38th Annual Coin Show, Queen Kapiolani Hotel, Honolulu, HI Contact Marion Kendrick tel/fax (808) 486-4766 November 9-11, 2001, Tennessee State Numismatic Society Camp Jordan Arena, Chattanooga, TN 100+ tables, Contact Gayle Pike, E-mail pikegw@aol.com November 15-18, "National and World Paper Money Convention" in St Louis, MO. [most paper money dealers and collectors will be in attendance] November 16-18, 2001, Ohio Coin Expo, Cleveland, OH Holiday Inn, Contact Ron Nelson E-mail ronald-nelson@worldnet.att.net November 15-18, 2001, Santa Clara C, S & C Show, Santa Clara CA convention Center, 300 Tables, Heritage Signature Sale, Contact Rudy Christians (530) 528-8329 November 18, 2001, West Paper Money Fair, London, England November 22 - November 25, 2001, MSNS 46th Fall Convention, Hyatt Regency Hotel Fairlane Town Center, Dearborn, MI., 150+ tables, Educational Programs, Exhibits with great awards including an adult and jr. ANA Summer Seminar Scholarship for BIS's for each one. contact Don Charters (734) 721-4991 or E-mail Tom Klunzinger teklunzinger@yahoo.com November 29 - December 2, 2001, Suburban Washington Baltimore Fall Coin & Currency Convention, Baltimore Convention Center B & M and Presidential Auctions Contact Ed Kuszmar, E-mail collectoramashow@aol.com Important 2002 events CPMX, Chicago Feb 28- Mar 3, 2002 - Contact Kevin Foley, Chairman, Lyn Knight auction of Leo May collection, Educational Programs, 100+ tables, Chicago - Rosemont, IL Holiday Inn, February 28-March 3, 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 27 CICF, April 4-7, 2002, Holiday Inn O'Hare, Rosemont, IL., 100+ tables, Educational Programs, Contact Kevin Foley, (414) 421-3484 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 36 Suite 163 Avon, IN 46123 Donors to 2002 Scholarship Fund Steve Feller Harold Kroll R. A. Medina Guido Crapanzano David Seelye Leo May Warner Talso Marv Mericle Mark Watson Gail Baker ==================================================== 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 For sale: 481 replacement 10C third print, serial number D01656387 in VF condition. Price is $450 shipping included. The note can be seen at http://trunghanhnguyen.tripod.com/481r, please confirm "Trung Nguyen"