Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web12708.mail.yahoo.com ([216.136.173.245]) by strange.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id tu2nbm.582.37kbi0u for ; Thu, 1 Nov 2001 09:34:30 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <20011101143429.89912.qmail@web12708.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [152.163.204.209] by web12708.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Thu, 01 Nov 2001 06:34:29 PST Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 06:34:29 -0800 (PST) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 474/3 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 474 Thurski, November 1, 2001 Ski Report by Larry "Ski" Smulczenski I feel like I should be writing something to do with Halloween on day after that festive occasion, but I can't think of any WWII note that has a association to ghosts or goblins or anything like that. Instead, I've got four subjects that I just have to at least make a short comment about. Three of them are triggered by the arrival yesterday of the November Bank Note Reporter (and one of the three could be considered "scary" which makes it appropriate for Halloween.) First, Phil asked the editor why the total productions of some fractional values of MPC series are not divisible by 672000. That 672000 comes from the 8000 sheets numbered by the Bureau in one run times 84 fractional notes on a sheet or a total production of 672,000 notes per numbering run. This number changes to 560000 for the one dollar note and 400000 for the $5, $10, and $20 respectively. That's because there are 70 dollar notes and 50 high values on a sheet respectively. Anyway, why aren't the total notes printed of a series divisible by the appropriate number listed above. Well, you will notice that all the notes printed by the Bureau DO meet this requirement. (I think!) The problem is in the early series that were printed by subcontractors, mainly Tudor. Remember, that Tudor only printed the notes, then they were shipped to the Bureau who numbered, cut and packaged them. I have a Purchase Order from the Bureau to Tudor, that contracts for a specific number of double sheets (168 subjects per sheet) to be printed. This contract does list the equivalent number of individual notes, but the Bureau only refers to sheets when they publish their internal work orders. The first item on the internal work order is to "cut from 168 subjects to 84 subjects" then the numbering process begins. Since there is no mention of replacements in the Purchase Order but a detailed description of replacements in the internal work order, it is my opinion that when the sheets came in from Tudor, they were cut in half, then first a quantity of sheets were numbered as replacements. The rest of the sheets were then numbered as regular issues. On the last run if there were less than 8000 sheets, so be it. There was no going back to the sub-contractor for 27 or 103 or even 1500 sheets. The cost would be prohibitive. For Forbes printed notes, Forbes had the capability to also number in house. So in most cases the numbers are divisible by the appropriate number referred to above EXCEPT for a few that come out with a half run. I don't know why that anomaly at this time. Maybe Fred can answer that or come up with another theory......as I said this is only my opinion. The November Bank Note Report has a letter from Keith Bauman that talks about an unlisted British Armed Forces Special Voucher. Keith sent BNR a color photocopy of two 2/6 shilling ( Pick M19) notes which they printed, one of which he says has a red serial number on watermarked paper. Unfortunately, since BNR does not print in color in the inside of the paper we can't tell much from the photo. Additionally the caption writer confused the issue by stating that both notes were unlisted in Pick. The letter says that the discovery piece is like the five shilling note in Pick that is listed with both black and red serial numbers on watermarked paper. The letter goes on to say that " we may someday see the sixpence, one shilling, 10 shillings and 1 Pound from this second series on watermarked paper with red serial numbers." First of all, let me say that I can guarantee that no one will ever find a different color serial number on the six pence or one shilling as well as the 3-pence because those notes do not have serial numbers. As far as the 2/6 shilling watermarked note with red serial number being a discover piece, all 2/6 shilling notes with watermark or with thread have red serial numbers. The 2/6 and 5 shilling notes have red serial numbers, while the 10 shilling, 1 and 5 Pound notes have black serials. If the top note in the BNR photo is the alleged discovery piece, then the bottom note must have a black serial number and would be the discovery note. I have a note that is in the same serial number range as the bottom pictured note, serial number DD/7 858462. It's serial number is definitely darker than all other red serial numbers I have seen on the 2/6 shilling notes and in some light conditions or angles might be considered black But under high magnification, you can see that there is a mix of red and black in the color. Where did the black come from? Your guess is as good as mine, but be aware that the watermarked notes were printed years after the notes with the metal strips. For the 2/6 shilling notes, the watermarked serial numbers started with DD/7 500000. Was the printer numbering one of the higher denomination notes and then switched to the red for the 2/6 and in the process failed to adequately clean the ink well, thus contaminating the red ink with left over black ink producing an off color serial number. Then the question begs to be asked,-- Is this the same type of black serial number that Pick now lists as Great Britain PM-20c? I have never seen nor heard from anyone that has seen the black serial number 2/6 or 5 shilling notes. Can anyone out there prove me wrong. Finally, on page 71 of this month's Bank Note Reporter, Neil Shafer features another 2/6 shilling British note as his Note of the Month. This is a British Military Authority note with a letter "D" on it and a handwritten message that says "Just outside Tripoli." It has long been suspected that the letters on the notes were codes for areas that they were released in. I have heard that Theo van Elmpt has researched this area and is going to publish this information in the near future. We look forward to it. Good info Neil and thanks for another great article. ============================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------- The return trip for France, to London, to Toronto, to Detroit was more or less uneventful. I was given the big run around at Victoria station about refunding the unused tickets to Guernsey and am not encouraged about the prospects of getting our money back. On the transatlantic flight, I noticed one big (smile) security enhancement. On the flight to London, the knife in the package of eating utensils had been replaced with a flimsy plastic item. The spoon and especially the fork were very nice, solid metal. On the return flight, the package consisted entirely of plastic. It seemed to me that if a hijacker were to use the admittedly excellent fork he would be immediately "outgunned" by 200 fork wielding passengers. Oh well. ============================================== Mail Call ---------------------------------------------- Dear Editor, The Gary Hicks letter reminded me of another Japanese printing operation I read about in a British source. When the British were taking the Japanese surrender below the 16th parallel in Indochina, they discovered a Japanese printing operation. I believe it was out near Tay Ninh province, but if not, it was not far from that area. The Japanese had apparently captured some Government General fractional notes and/or some Bank of Indochina piastre notes and were printing serial numbers on them. Then they were using them to purchase supplies for themselves, and to enrich themselves before returning home to Japan. I cannot remember the source, but I do remember the operation. Maybe it was a common thing for the Japanese military who had printing facilities under their control at the end of the war, to start printing their own money. Does anyone else remember other money printing operations? Howard A. (Hard Ass) Daniel III P.S. I do not remember using "esteemed" for the editor in my previous mail, but if I did, I must have been thinking of someone else. Only kidding. P.S.S. I also do not remember what I said in London to cause people to request that I not replace my old .45. Can anyone fill me in on what I did to cause such requests? ================================================ 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, Richard Freyser, Tom Koch, Mark Watson, Bill Yanchick, Doug Bell, Sam Feeback, Bruce Potter, Elmer Smith, Marv Mericle, Wes and Rod Hardy, Fred Schwan {running total 22}] 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 will return soon --------------------------------------------------- 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"