Status: U Return-Path: Received: from mail.papermoneyworld.net ([207.3.91.49]) by kendall.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id u223gq.4sf.37kbi2i for ; Wed, 19 Dec 2001 17:00:58 -0500 (EST) Subject: MPC GRAM Precedence: bulk Sender: mpcgramsender-owner@mail.papermoneyworld.net From: mpcgramsender-owner@mail.papermoneyworld.net (List Server) Date: Wed, 19 Dec 101 15:29:54 CST Message-Id: <10112191529.AA15C72902@mail.papermoneyworld.net> Repy-To: mpcgramsender-owner@mail.papermoneyworld.net Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 07:08:29 -0800 (PST) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 517 ============================================== MPC Gram ============================================== Covering the Entire World of Military Numismatics ---------------------------------------------- Series 003-Number 517 Wednesday, December 19, 2001 AMC Lire Leaflet By Dennis Earle I was able to obtain an interesting propaganda leaflet featuring an AMC lire note. I have not seen this leaflet before. I obtained it from a veteran. It is in my collection. http://www.pensys.com/pages/dearle/AMC.jpg http://www.pensys.com/pages/dearle/AMC1.jpg. More on tokens, Vietnam Military Club Tokens: Submitted by Ed Hoffman The below article appeared in COIN WORLD, Wednesday, March 20, 1968. References to an illustration appearing in COIN WORLD have been omitted from this reprint. U.S. ARMED FORCES IN VIETNAM USE VARIOUS TOKENS IN PLACE OF COINAGE By Bob Berman, Los Angeles, California The latest collectible numismatic items are the tokens of the U.S. Armed Forces and kindred personnel in Vietnam. This type of collection is fascinating for several reasons. Such pieces are part of history as it is being made at this very moment. Being war mementos, they always will be cherished by collectors. And, not least important, they are available at low cost, and in hundreds of varieties, providing material with which to create an interesting numismatic exhibit, interesting to the collector and noncollector alike. These tokens, used as substitutes for money, are referred to as 'slugs' by the servicemen who use them in Vietnam. Paper scrip and these tokens constitute the official exchange media there; no US paper money or coinage is allowed to be used by our armed forces, because of the chances that it would find its way into the local black market, and thence to North Vietnam, where it could supply 'aid and comfort' to the enemy. The names and symbols on these tokens denote the open messes or clubs which are the issuing or sponsoring agents. Some are purely military operations; others are operated for civilian personnel in the beleaguered land. The tokens are purchased from various US and foreign manufacturers of slot and amusement machines which are in operation in Vietnam. They occur in denominations of five, ten, and twenty-five cents, and cost approximately $60 per thousand. No records exist as to the quantities of each issue that were manufactured; nor, for that matter, the total number of varieties being used in Vietnam. However, there are approximately 800 open messes and clubs throughout the country, and about half of these operate slot machines. The tokens are similar in size and weight to US coins, and can be used in US slot and amusement machines without modification. Rigid controls exist to discourage counterfeiting and theft; they must be signed for, both when purchased, and when turned in as winnings. Nearly 400 varieties of tokens have been issued to date. Among them are issues of the 54th Signal Battalion Non-commissioned Officers Club at Nha Trang, and the Pacific Architects and Engineers hotel government contractors. A rather common token is the piece with the small 's' monogram in the upper portion of a completely blank field. These tokens are provided by the Seeburg Slot Machine Co. of Japan, a leading supplier of the slot and amusement machines used in Vietnam. There is also a variety of Seeburg tokens which is blank on both the obverse and reverse. These are used at camps which have not yet become permanent installations, and so do not have tokens of their own design. Headquarters, Area Command, Saigon Open Mess Division, has its own token, as does the 84th Engineers NCO Club. The 39th Signal Battalion Officers Mess is built on the site of an old rice mill on the Saigon river in Saigon. The Shawnee Teepee Lounge is located at Ton Son Nhut AFB as is the Ton Son Nhut AFB Officer's Open Mess. Other tokens reflect the imaginations and sense of humor of the issuers: The White Cap Lounge of the Military Police; the Playboy Lounge of the 120th Aviation Company, and the Beach Comber Club at Vung Tau, the South China Sea rest and recuperation center. Collecting these tokens should prove stimulating to new and advanced collectors alike. They are inexpensive, and available in a large number of varieties. As remembrances of this period of strife in Vietnam, it is likely that they will be much discussed in the future, since they carry the names of both military units and historic battle sites. Since the tokens will operate almost any coin operated vending machine, it is likely that beverage companies and jukebox operators will, unwittingly, become accumulators of an extensive number of these varieties in the next few years. The writer is indebted to Lt. Col. E.K. Pudeau, The Pentagon, Washington, DC; Colonels M.V. Talbot and W.H. Root, US Armed Forces Headquarters, Vietnam, and S/Sgt Ray Bows, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for information on these token issues. end of article Subsequently, Ray Bows, wrote the book on these tokens. VIETNAM MILITARY LORE 1950 - 1973 and another book about 175 brave men who died in Vietnam: VIETNAM MILITARY LORE - LEGENDS, SHADOWS AND HEROES. Inquires for the availability of these publications should be made to: Bows and Sons Publishing, 2055 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339 - Telephone 781-293-2900 Available by mail only: Price list G-7, offers for sale Vietnam Military Club tokens, air-dropped propaganda leaflets, safe conduct passes, coins and bank notes of South Vietnam. For a free copy, send #10 SASE to: Edward B Hoffman PO Box 6039 Elko, Nevada 89802-6039 ============================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------- Chat last night was successful, not great, but successful. Collectors from both coasts and in between came on. There were a few problems, but this was expected as it is a new system. We will try again next Tuesday. Hm, that is Christmas day. That probably would not normally hold me back, but then I am subject to pressures too. I suppose that we will officially keep it on the schedule. Aside to Ski: Ski call home (MPC HQ). ============================================== Mail Call ---------------------------------------------- Dear Gram, I note that my name has mysteriously appeared on the "masthead" of the Gram. When, oh when, will I ever learn to keep my mouth shut? Fred, "The Delegator," strikes again. Anonymous Dear Editor, One of the references in my library is not about Southeast Asia, but it does have a page or two about MPC. There are definitions on pages 32 and 33, but it has even more definitions and information about paper financial instruments on many other pages that are not available in any other reference known to me. This reference is "U.S. Essay, Proof and Specimen Notes" by Gene Hessler, and it was published by a little known publisher by the name of BNR Press in 1979. For all of you interested in updating the "MPC Glossary", please review Gene's most valuable reference to me. Howard A. Daniel III (Howard@SEAsianTreasury.com) ================================================ 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, Marcus Turner, Gene Ryanwood, Al Glaser, Fred Schwan {running total 25}] [missing “old” Festers: Dan Swartz, Leo May, Al Glaser, Kevin Maloy (did I forget someone?), come on guys, give us your reservation] Three airports are reasonably available for the Fest. In order of proximity they are: Toledo Cleveland Detroit (Metro) All three are reasonable. If you can arrive early enough AND coordinate it well ahead, every attempt will be made to pick you up at the airport to save on rental cars. Festers are encouraged to coordinate among themselves for rides. We will also run notices in the Gram and, finally, we will try to coordinate for Festers to run pickups from Fest central. June 29 to July 5 W.W.II numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar, July 2002 Session I (June 29 through July 5, 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 Joel Shafer Ed Hoffman ==================================================== 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. SPECIAL NOTICE We are in a mad final push to complete the fourth edition of our MPC bible! We can and will have it to the printer before Christmas! The resources section is one of the major areas where work is needed. Place your advertisement now! If you ordered an ad in the past and we have not spoken about it recently, please confirm. This is your chance to get your message to thousands of collectors and dealers world wide. With an advertisement in The Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates you will receive many extras (these may change over time): listing in the Hot Contact List every month in the Bank Note Reporter, in the book itself, at papermoneyworld and probably right here in the Gram. Here is what is available: Inside back cover, one spot $1900* Last page $1700 Full page in resources section $750 Three quarter page $550 Half page $500 Quarter page $400 *full color available for this position. Monthly payment option available. Make your reservation now! FOR SALE Ireland Currach 1 pence, 6 pence, 1 shilling, 2 shilling Campbell 5550-5553 EF set of 4 $300.00 postpaid insured for domestic delivery. Austria IRO 1 Unit Campbell 7360 VF $250.00 postpaid insured for domestic delivery. 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 –ski@papermoneyworld.net critic: Harold Kroll - MPCKid@papermoneyworld.net fact checker: Warner Talso 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!? Check out Yahoo! Shopping and Yahoo! Auctions for all of your unique holiday gifts! Buy at http://shopping.yahoo.com or bid at http://auctions.yahoo.com