============================================== More personal experiences ============================================== Dear Esteemed Editor, ==============================================
WESPMEX: 12 -14 April ===================================================
Dealers and resources for collectors: ===================================================
FOR SALE WANTED ===================================================
===================================================
MPC Gram
==============================================
Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics
----------------------------------------------
Series 003 - Number 589
Tuesday - 09 APRIL 2002
___________________
__325 days to Fest IV__
By Joseph Boling
Taking up where I left off last
week, when I arrived in Vietnam (Christmas day 1967) I immediately had to
convert my green to MPC (I don't believe that happened at McChord, though I
don't specifically remember the exchange transaction). We were given series 641,
which by that time was getting pretty long in the tooth--it had been circulating
several years. For local currency, we had to buy dong (which we all called
piastres, or p). Then circulating were Pick 16, 17, 19a and b, 20a and b, and
23. I was the first to report to Albert Pick that two watermarks existed for the
100 dong and 200 dong notes (the devil's head, the same in both, came first; the
heads to match the portraits were introduced either just before or just after I
arrived).
During my year there (I
was upcountry in Pleiku) I found very little to collect. The cash coins in the
local markets were obvious replicas, and there were no early or odd notes to be
had. I failed to save even a single piece of the club scrip that I used in the
Camp Holloway officers club, so I don't know if the PA&E (Pacific Architects
and Engineers, a Corps of Engineers contractor) chits were the ones I used or if
there is another, unreported, issue for one of the aviation units there. I was
able to make one trip to Saigon during my tour, to visit a prisoner at LBJ (Long
Binh jail). I discovered after arriving that he had been moved to Hawaii,
without my being informed (I was his company commander). So I visited 1st Log
Command HQ (my two-star HQ) in the morning and spent an afternoon shopping on Tu
Do street. I bought several souvenir items there (some of which now reside in
the collections of Howard Daniel and his wife), a camera bag (elephant hide,
illegal to import now), and BANK NOTES. I scoured the stalls for anything
numismatic; all I could find was fake 1804 dollars and fake trade dollars. ]
Finally, on a dim side street, I
found a shop with a glass covered table out front. The glass actually covered a
bin, in which were bundles of obsolete currency. Oh, joy! Here were Indochinese
notes, Institute of Emission notes, and older RVN notes. I sorted through the
material and took one of each (I was appalled at the price he wanted for P-10--I
don't remember the price, but I was appalled). But I paid it (or close to
it--this guy did not bargain like the camera bag vendor had--I was too obviously
in love with the notes, whereas I was walking out of the camera store empty
handed when that dealer came down to my price). But, what did I not see in the
paper money stacks? I saw no examples of P6A or P14. Indeed, I never knew those
notes existed until I was in Seattle in 1972 or later, when Mati Tiitus had them
in an auction (probably Walter Loeb notes). I understand P14 being hard to
find--it was formally withdrawn (the 200 dong note with the submachine gunner).
I don't know why P6A was so hard, but it must have been for others also, or it
would not have that interpolated Pick number.Also during my tour there (late
1968), USARV and MACV started to introduce currency controls beyond MPC--the
ration control plates. They did not actually have the plates (cards) yet when I
left, but everyone had to fill out ration control slips when purchasing items
like cameras or stereo gear; a copy of that multiple-part form was sent back to
a central processing point where the data was entered against your serial number
(we were not yet using SSANs for serial numbers).
Soldiers with excessive purchases
would be subject to investigation (purchases exceeding their pay, a pretty good
sign of black market activity or currency control violations). I still have
several of those forms for items I bought in the PX. For R&R I went to
Australia, and I delayed the trip until nearly the end of my tour (December) so
that I would not be there during the down-under winter. My first financial
interest (after getting some Aussie notes) was to visit the foreign exchange
windows at the banks to look for obsolete US notes, just as I had done in
Germany. I did not find much, but I did come up with one nice piece: a 1928F $2
US Note with a large inscription "Dr. Fred Loukes, Cincinnati, Ohio USA." You
can find the story of this note in my column in gram 172. Late in my tour it
finally happened--C DAY. Series 661 was introduced, and I immediately noticed
the new denomination! I took a double set of the high denominations of the new
notes, laid them out, and photographed them. It did not occur to me to bring
them (or even a single set) home; $35 was a lot of money, even for a captain. I
thought (and still think) that the $20 was an afterthought, not nearly as pretty
as the other notes in the series. I believe Fred has told me I am nuts- -that
the $20 was planned for that series from the start. Maybe, but it still looks
like it does not belong. My freedom bird was delayed leaving Cam Ranh Bay (long
story you don't want to hear), and stopped in Tokyo to refuel. We were confined
to a holding pen with no opportunity to acquire any yen. No matter--at that time
the current notes had been circulating for most of the decade, and I did not
need them. I did not realize that they had a different series of MPC than I had
been using in VN. Next stop--Indianapolis, and more adventures with military
notes.
==============================================
EDITORIAL
Time is running out people! We need your votes on
the Fest Shirt Design - if you haven't sent in your vote for design to Doug, you
better do it quick. Once printed, they'll be no complainin' !!!
Although I am not sure, I do believe the ration control
plates Joe is referring to are the MACV Currency Control Cards (Plates).
My apologies for getting this gram out so late, racing season is almost
here, and prep work on the race car ran overtime. No expense spared in the
pursuit of prefection!
MAIL
CALL
I was just reading through my latest
"Numismatic News" and saw a "Free Numismatic News Show Directory Form".
The same thing probably exists for all other Krause hobby publications and for
the "Coin World" family too. I believe the MPC Fest should be listed in
the Show Directory of "Numismatic News" and many other hobby publications to
attract "new" people to attend it. The MPC Fest is also not listed in the
IBNS web site or any other web site known to me. I think the huge and bloated
MPCGram staff needs to start publizing the MPCFest and the ANA Summer Session
classes conducted by Joe Boling and Fred Schwan in every way possible and not
just in the MPCGram and by word-of-mouth.
Howard A. Daniel III
ANA
has announced the names of over thirty recipients of YN scholarships for the
2002 summer seminar. Time for us to be getting our winners selected.
Joe
Hello Gram,
I think the new entries should be highlighted just the
first day they are listed. My reason for this is that some do not read their
grams everyday, but when they do get around to reading them they read them one
at a time anyway! The highlighting calls your attention, like saying "Hey, look
at me, I'm a highlighted correction, I wasn't here yesterday, you better make a
note in your book before you close your Gram"! Phil, I think you're doing a
GREAT job with the Gram by the way. I know that most of the readers do not
realize the amount of work that goes into putting the Gram out. Kudos to you. By
the way, I'm putting some mpc on the side for you that have the series numbers
somewhere in the serial number. Maybe by the next Fest your fetish with that
will diminish, but if not I'll have them. Take care and have a GREAT day!
William E. Yanchick
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Stamp, Coin and Paper
Money Expo
175 tables
Westchester County Center, Bronx River Pkwy, White
Plains, NY
ANA Seminar: 29 June to 5 July
W.W. II
numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar, July 2002
Session I
Session II (Sunday, 7 July
through Thursday, 11 July, 2002)
general events will return
2003
CPMX 9: 20-23 February,
MPC
Fest IV: 28 Feb - 2 March, Port Clinton, OH
Fest
Registrants: Leo May$$, Tom Warburton, Guido Crapanzano, Harold Kroll, Larry
Smulczenski, Kevin Maloy, Doug Bell, Marcus Turner, Philip M. Goldstein, Jack
Lippincot, Nick Shrier, David Seelye, Joe Boling, Gary Hicks, Fred Schwan, Dick
Freyser.
Running total: 16
$$ = Paid
ANA:
19-22 March, Charlotte, NC
2004
CPMX 10:
26-29 Feb,
MPC Fest V: 5-7 March, Port Clinton, OH
2005
CPMX 11: 24-27 Feb,
MPC Fest VI: 4-6
March, Port Clinton, OH
SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS
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
or contact
Marcus at:
maturner@indy.rr.com
Donors
to 2002 Scholarship Fund:
Dave Amey
Gail
Baker
Keith
and Sue Bauman Ort Cowles
Guido
Crapanzano
Howard
A. Daniel, III
Steve
Feller
Gary
Hicks
Ed Hoffman
Harold
Kroll
Tim
Kyzivat
R.
A. Medina
Leo May
Marv
Mericle
Mr.
691
David
Seelye
Joel Shafer
Neil Shafer
Warner
Talso
Mark
Watson
John & Nancy Wilson
Bill
Yanchick
===================================================
HOT CONTACT LIST
They
deserve your support and patronage!
Name
phone
fax
email
Allens
(614)
882-3937 (614) 882-0662
info@allens.com
American Coins
& Collectibles (800)
865-3562
American Numismatic Ass'n
(800)
367-9723
ana@money.org
Bob Baker
(713)
864-3122
Ken Barr
(408)
272-3247
ken@kenbarr.com
Fred Bart
(810)
979-3400
Dick Balbaton
(508)
699-2266 (508) 643-1154
RJBalbaton@aol.com
Keith and
Suzanne Bauman
(248)
262-1514
tnaksbauman@earthlink.net
Joe Bissell
(602)
440-0442 (602) 494-9103
BNR Press
(419)
732-6683 (419) 732-6683
fredschwan@yahoo.com
Remy Bourne
(800)
789-7070 (763) 789-4747
Ed Carne
(614)
882-3937 (614) 882-0662
info@allens.com
Champion Stamp
(212)
489-8130 (212) 581-8130
Cookie Jar
Collectibles
(301)
604-9225
cjcpi@comcast.net
Guido
Crapanzano
[39]
2-8056228 [39] 2-4459856
Currency Dealer
Newsletter
(310)
515-7369
David F. Cieniewicz
(205)
852-7015
CGC
(602)
493-4758 (602) 494-9103
sales@gradedcurrency.com
Mike
Cummings
(863)
603-9899 (863) 603-9880
mpccoin@hotmail.com
Cygnet Charters
(419)
734-2422
Ray Czahor
(301)
604-9225
cjcpi@comcast.net
Doric Coins & Currency
(508)
699-2266 (508) 643-1154
FUN
(407)
321-8747
Larry Gibbs
(308)
635-7900
oth@prairieweb.com
Philip M.
Goldstein
(845)
254-MPC1 [6721]
iwantmympc@aol.com or MPC Website
Great Lakes Bank Note Company (419)
732-6683
IBNS
joeboling@aol.com
Essie Kashani
(909)
627-3996 (909) 627-2776
kashani10@aol.com
Lowel Horwdel
(765)
583-2748 (765) 583-4584
horwdel@inshightbb.com
Peter Huntoon
Smithsonian
Research
peter.huntoon@att.net
Lyn Knight
(800)
243-5211
Krause Publications
(715)
445-2214 (715) 445-4087
bnr@krause.com
Harold Kroll
(251)
649-5134
HARBONS@aol.com
Leo May
(305)
271-8391
LeoMayEnt@aol.com
Ian Marshall
(416)
445-0286 (416) 445-0286
iam@total.net
Memphis Coin
Club
(901)
757-2515
MPCGram
(419)
732-6683
MPCGram@yahoo.com
Bob Reed
(504)
361-5684
bobreed@rrcoins.net
Fred Schwan
(419)
732-6683 (419) 732-6683
FredSchwan@yahoo.com
David Seelye
(585)
594-1987 (585) 594-2311
coinman@rochester.rr.com
Richie Self
(318)
868-9077
R. M. Smythe
(800)
622-1880 (212) 908-4047
www.smytheonline.com
Mel Steinberg
& Son
(415)
453-9750 (415) 457-4432
melsteinberg@mindspring.com
Military Trader
(800)
334-7165
Scott Winslow Associates
(603)
472-7040 (603) 472-8773
scott@scottwinslow.com
George Warner
(307)
672-3700
Pam West
[44]
0208 641 3224 [44] 0208 641 3224 pamwestbritnotes@compuserve.com
POST / BASE EXCHANGE (PX/BX/NEX)
Fourth edition Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment
Certificates by Fred Schwan shipping about March 5. Order yours now:
Standard Edition (400 pages!)
$ 50
Collectors’s Edition (432 pages!)
$ 95
Researcher's Edition (432 page, 46 produced, limited
to availability) $125
All orders plus $4 shipping
per order (NOT per book). Send snail mail payment to:
BNR Press
132 E.
Second Street
Port Clinton, OH 43452
or PayPay using email: fredschwan@yahoo.com
WANTED
Souvenir Card 'MPC Fest I' from the first MPC Fest.
Collector wants All
USAFFE and AUSA Free Samar notes All 125th Infantry Regiment and Markings
Guerrilla notes. I am also interested in any and all Guerilla Municipal issues.
WANTED TO BUY: Bulk quantities of Afghanistan propaganda leaflets or
related.
Looking for a Series 641 MPC, any denomination with the serial
number J02283151J.
MPC CATALOG CORRECTIONS & ENHANCEMENTS
Page 18, Bottom - Users of Military Payment
Certificates
Check marks were omitted from production copies of books.
Please check off the following:
Australia:
641, 661, 681, 692
Canada:
461 through
and including 591
Korea:
641,
661, 681, 692
New Zealand: 641, 661, 681, 692
Thailand:
641, 661, 681, 692
United States: All
Page 207, #833/4 - Series 481 .25 4th
Printing (table listing serial number breakdowns) line 5
Start
Number is incorrect. It appears as:
(start) D14784001D (end)
D14784000D
Correct start number should be: D09408001D
PK6 (date listed: 03 APRIL 2002)
Page
214, #855/r2 - Series 541 $1 Replacements,
Ending serial number is
incorrect
Correct number is F01112000
(date listed: 02
APRIL 2002)
Page 220, #884/2r - Series 641 .50
Replacements
On page 284, it is broken down into 2 printings. That's
correct, BUT, on page 220 he lists only (1) printing reported. It should "list"
both first and second printings.
Guy Araby (date
listed 04 APRIL 2002)
Page 287, Series 661 Series Summary,
25 cent note: the "list" shows "#CU as 10(7) . It should read, 8(7). As only 8
are known in CU. Just recount P.289.
Guy Araby (date
listed 08 APRIL 2002)
Page 398, Series #541 $10 on
"UNC." price is $2500, on P.214 the UNC. price is $3500. Also the rest of
the prices don't match all the way to "VG" on this issue. They should be the
same price.
Guy Araby (date listed 08 APRIL 2002)
Staff:
Publisher and Editor:
Fred
Schwan -
MPCGram@yahoo.com
Assistant
Editor:
Philip
M. 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
Friday Columnist:
Philip
M. Goldstein
IWANTMYMPC@aol.com
Critic:
Harold
Kroll -
HARBONS@aol.com
Scholarship
Coordinator:
Marcus
Turner -
maturner@indy.rr.com
Fact Checker:
Warner
Talso -
Calendar Coordinator:
John
& Nancy Wilson -
Index Manager:
Ed
Beaman -
ebeaman@sprynet.com
Webmaster & Technical Advisors:
Doug Bell "Wiz" -
doug@papermoneyworld.net
Russ
Walsh -
russ.walsh@gte.net
The Boss:
Judy
Schwan -