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MPC Gram
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Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics
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Series 003 - Number 591     Thursday - 10 APRIL 2002
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__323 days to Fest IV__


FEATURED ARTICLE

Fest Auction
By Larry Smulczenski

There have been a number of columns written about the FEST, so I won't continue to expound on this event.  I would however, like to talk a little bit about the Auction that we conducted there on Sunday morning.  Although I pleaded with folks to get there lots in early, we still had a couple of attendees scurrying around minutes before the auction, wanting to add this or that to the list.  To those of you that heeded my pleas, a big, unqualified "THANK YOU".  We really wouldn't have made it if I hadn't gotten a head start with the lots that were mailed to me.  Many of the donated bulk lots took hours to sift through and list and therefore just couldn't have been done during the FEST.  Still I spent a couple of nights after I arrived in Port Clinton writing up the lots that I was given at CPMX. Fortunately, Phil agreed to come in a day early and did a great job of typing and entering the entire Auction into the computer. He worked into the wee hours of the morning to tie it all together. We tried to send it out via the Internet, to Gramsters that weren't in attendance, but because of the problems that the Gram was having at that time only a few subscribers received it.  That's an area that we will have to improve on next year and that is another reason to get your submissions in early.  But we did receive a couple of bids via email from California and one even as far away as England, so we do know that some of the Grams reached subscribers. 
   
      The Auction itself went very smoothly.  Phil was able to keep up with the winning bids and the winning bidders and even did a super job of bidding for the book as well as himself and kept it all straight.  Festers were enthusiastic bidders and of the 110 lots that were presented for bids, 100 found new homes.  Only 10 were returned to the consignor.  To top that off, all lots that were donated with the proceeds going to the Scholarship fund were sold.  That is significant when you consider that more than one-half of the lots were donated, fifty-eight of the 110 to be exact.  The big winner, of course, was the scholarship fund which was enriched by a total of $2155.00.  This means that two additional scholarships can be awarded to the ANA Seminar this year.  Of course, we need to find those deserving individuals to send to this event and it is less than three months away. 

      Finally, I'd like to publicly thank, the large number of donors that contributed items to the Auction to benefit the Scholarship Fund.  Your generosity overwhelms me.  Whether it was large number or single lot, they were all appreciated and go to a common good cause: education of a numismatist.  We know how last years recipients appreciated the Seminar and raved about what they learned.  I'm sure that this years class will feel the same. 
 
      My handy-dandy calendar of World War II Events, tells me that on this date in 1941, President Roosevelt signed the Office of Price Administration into law in an effort to prevent price gouging and hoarding.  The OPA, which controlled rationing, would become one of the most powerful agencies in America for the duration of the war.  World War II Remembered has only four short paragraphs about this organization and the rationing items that it issued on page 425.  In reality, these rationing items and documents issued by the OPA are a huge collecting area by itself.  There are hundreds of ration tokens or stamps and thousands of documents pertaining to the ration items of World War II and many of them can be had for a few cents to a few bucks apiece. These fit nicely into our area of interest.  

      We have a sister organization, The Society of Ration Token Collectors, that specializes in this area. They have a wonderful catalog that lists these ration items and associated documents and contains over 600 pages. They produce a small journal quarterly, that includes new information and sometimes an auction.  Dues are a mere $8.00 a year. I would recommend it to you if your interested in these items.  I know the president of this organization is a Gramster, and I'm sure that if you expressed an interest, he would help you out.


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EDITORIAL


Neither Ski, nor I for that matter, can stress the point of having your Fest IV auction lots sent in early enough. Maybe some of you who are dealers are afraid the item may be tied up and not available for sale if you send it in early. Think of it this way, if we have the lots early enough before the Fest, it will be listed on two websites and get a lot more coverage than at just one show at a time or one price list mailer.

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MAIL CALL



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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WESPMEX:   12 -14 April
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
(Saturday, 29 June through Friday, 5 July, 2002)
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

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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                                                
                                          

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HOT CONTACT LIST


Below is the BNR Press Hot Contact List. This list serves several functions. Obviously it is an outreach by the dealers listed for your business. Most of them buy and sell MPC. Others organize shows or publish periodicals. They have supported the new Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates with their advertising.

They deserve your support and patronage!

Dealers and resources for collectors:


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


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POST / BASE EXCHANGE   (PX/BX/NEX)


Dump your dupes! Your classified advertisement for items for sale, purchase or trade 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. In all cases confirm your order via email first.

FOR SALE


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


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 for sale in the above section as a reply. This is a trial, if you like it, send your list.

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.

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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
(date listed: 02 APRIL 2002)

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 F1112000
(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)
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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 -