============================================== episode: "Give Koreans a Chance" ==============================================
============================================== * *
* * *
* * *
* * * *
* * *
* * *
* * ANNOUNCEMENT: In the May 2002 issue of Bank Note Reporter, page 1 and 63, the
sale of MPC in the upcoming Currency Auctions of America-Heritage Spring 2002
Sale to be held on May 17-18 at the Chicago Invitational Paper Money Show is
noted. ==============================================
ANA Seminar: 29 June to 5 July 2003 CPMX 9: 20 - 23 February, $$ = Paid ===================================================
Donors to 2002 Scholarship Fund: Dave
Amey
Gail Baker
Keith and Sue Bauman Ort
Cowles ===================================================
FOR SALE Standard Edition (400 pages!)
$ 50 ===================================================
===================================================
MPC Gram
==============================================
Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics
----------------------------------------------
Series 003 - Number
607 Saturday - 27 APRIL 2002
___________________
__307 days to Fest IV__
FEATURED ARTICLE
M*A*S*H & MPC
by David Klinger
by H. C. Lechuk
The episode I'm
discussing revolves around scrip, the currency being used by the military at the
time of the war.
From time to time,
the military would issue new scrip at a one-to-one exchange rate for the old
scrip. It did this to control the black market use of the scrip. Only army
personnel could exchange old bills for the new ones.
The MASH unit (the
4077th), like other army units would occasionally use scrip to pay for services
rendered by the local Korean civilians. The Koreans could, in turn, use the
scrip to buy needed supplies. The change to new scrip could really screw the
Koreans up. They had been paid for their work in old US military scrip. But,
they were not allowed to exchange it for the new scrip. That meant that any old
scrip they were currently holding would become useless. It would be as if all
the money in your wallet became suddenly
worthless.
One of the doctors in the
MASH unit, resident bad guy, Dr. Charles Winchester, realizes the predicament
the Koreans are in. He hatches a plan to buy up the scrip from the local Korean
village at ten to one. He'll give them one dollar of new scrip for each ten
dollars of old scrip. Then, he'll rush back to camp in time to exchange the old
scrip acquired from the Koreans at one to one. Charles will make a 900% profit.
He strong-arms a local Korean tailor to help him execute the
scheme.
The tailor complains about his plight
to two other doctors, the resident good guys, Dr. 'Hawkeye' Pierce and Dr. B.J.
Hunnicutt. Hawkeye and B.J. decide to concoct a scheme to teach Charles a
lesson. In the meantime, Hawkeye has a problem of his own. One of the soldiers
in his care, a Private Boone, will be bedridden for the next little while and
needs Pierce to exchange his $400 in old scrip for him. Hawkeye agrees but the
money, placed in a small sack, is stolen. Private Boone doesn't believe Hawkeye.
He thinks the doctor is giving him a load of crap. Boone thinks Hawkeye is a
thief.
The day of scrip exchange
arrives. Charles drives his jeep to the nearby Korean village and collects the
old scrip from the villagers giving them 10% in new scrip. On his way back to
camp, he's stopped by some MPs (military police). The road back has been
officially blocked . Actually, Pierce and Hunnicutt have gotten one of their MP
buddies to fake this. Charles is forced to run back to camp on foot. He fails to
make the deadline; the camp is now sealed off to all personnel and Charles is
stuck outside. Just inside the camp, Pierce offers to bail Charles out of his
predicament, but for a steep price. He'll give Charles the same deal that
Charles gave the Koreans. Not wanting to be stuck with $400 of useless old
scrip, Charles agrees to the exchange and receives $40 in new scrip from Pierce.
Charles has been ripped off the same way that he ripped off the Koreans. Pierce,
legally inside the camp, happily exchanges the old scrip for $400 in new, crisp
bills.
Pierce gives the $400 in new
scrip to Private Boone to replace the money that was stolen. Everyone's happy
and bad boy Charles has been taught a lesson. At least that's how I thought the
first time I saw this episode in its first run more than ten years ago. When I
saw the same episode as a rerun just a few weeks back, I was disturbed at the
fact that everything was wrapped up nicely except for the Koreans who had still
been ripped off.
To make matters
worse, the tag (this is the last two minutes or so of the show that come on
after the last commercial) further resolved things while ignoring the Koreans.
When Private Boone's $400 was initially stolen, Father Mulcahy, the unit's
chaplain, publicly decried the crime over the public address system for the
camp. He called for the criminal to repent and return the money, anonymously if
he wished. Mulcahy's words apparently were very moving for he found a bag left
at his doorstep with the $400, already exchanged into brand new scrip.
Logically, to wrap up the story, since Private Boone had gotten the Korean
villagers' money, these funds should be given back to the Korean villagers who
would effectively get a one to one exchange. Instead, Hawkeye advises Father
Mulcahy to keep the money for his own charitable works.
Lets look at the net result of this
episode. The Korean villagers lose 90 percent of their spending power. Father
Mulcahy gets $400 for his work. Pierce loses $40 but he feels great because he
came through for Private Boone. Charles comes out even but he's been taught a
lesson about trying to rip someone off. Because the good Father will most likely
spend his money on Korean orphans, the whole turn of events can be viewed as a
monetary exchange from one Korean group to another. However, control of funds
now rests with an American priest. We don't want to rip off you good Koreans,
but we'd better control the money and decide where to spend it. Is that the
message?
Perhaps I'm pushing the point a bit far. But why did the writers of
this MASH episode choose to end it this way? It would have been logical to just
return the money to the villagers. Moreover, why didn't Hawkeye and B.J. just
offer to exchange things fairly for the villagers if they were so concerned
about morality in the first place. It seems that the writers were concerned that
the morality of the episode worked out in a pleasing fashion for the Americans.
The Koreans, they're just props anyway. Ain't they? What do you
think?
Post Script:
The episode referred to was aired in the
sixth season of M*A*S*H on 8 Nov, 1977. The title of the
episode
was "Change Day". I watched it again today. At no time
during the episode was the scrip referred to as Military Payment Certificates or
MPC. Also the stage money looked like regular US currency and not MPC.
At
the start of the episode COL Potter announced that "Tomorrow at 1600 Army Money
will be exchanged - Red
for Blue". The next day Radar announced "bring your
cash before it turns to trash".
In a sub plot in this episode, CPL
Klinger decides the best way to get out of Korea is to apply to West Point. By
the way, I am not related!
Dave Klinger
EDITORIAL
Regardless as to the morality of the above episode
(I saw it recently, it was aired locally here in NY about a month ago), my
concerns are the following:
1) It's only TV, and although I'm sure there
were civilians paid in MPC in Korea during that war a/k/a "police action", I'm
quite sure some literary license was taken with the episode in question. This
was not a documentary.
2) More importantly, (from an MPC
obsessive/compulsives view): why wasn't the "scrip exchange" correctly called
Conversion Day? Get it right!
3) Wasn't there a military regulation
stipulating a soldier can't exchange more than approximately 150% his regular
pay? (or something to this effect) If so, how can Charles, Hawkeye, or
anyone for that matter exchange $400 at a single conversion? I know in that era,
Military Doctors didn't make that much....
4) I believe M*A*S*H was
classified as a sit-com. (situation comedy, for all you non-couch potatoes)
Although it did carry more than a few anti-war overtones, it basically was a
comedy..
Since when are comedies written to be accurate? Do we question
ethics on Seinfeld? Proper & safe tool usage on Home Improvement? Or how
about the cowboy riding at full gallop, firing 57 times from a six-shooter, and
yet he hits every Indian, (sorry: Native American) on the plain... No... we
laugh. Thats's entertainment. Get the drift? It's only TV.
I'm sorry if I
took this point too far... But I think when the time is right, we all need to
take a reality check.
MAIL
CALL
Now, in response to
yesterdays letter from Trung, I have to say this: A few years ago, while I was
still assembling my 94 piece set, I made a mention to Fred during a telephone
conversation, that I was losing the same notes repeatedly... I would bid
the price listed in 3rd Edition, plus a few bucks for good measure. Apparently,
and quite obviously, there was marked increase in demand for these particular
notes, and bidding would go much higher than
listed.
Fred replied, don't be such
a slave to book prices... Bid with your heart, not with the book. At first I
challenged this thinking, saying what purpose of a price guide, if nobody will
follow it.. Then I came around.. Book pricing? Who needs it... Sure, it's nice
to have a price in a guide as a SUGGESTION, but not as the 11th Commandment.
If you also remember, back before
the 4th Edition was published, I put a letter in the Gram, and made phone calls
to solicit input from an assortment of collectors who purchased notes in a
variety of ranges... unc only, any condition, multiple printings, and everything
in between and what have you, to help price notes for the new book. Nobody, and
I mean not a single soul, ever wrote or called to say, "this price needs to be
reviewed" "I disagree" etc. I heard that people disagreed, but never was a
single note or price specifically brought up.
I even went as far to suggest NO
prices be listed in the 4th Edition, for several reasons:
1) No
prices meant the book would remain "accurate" longer - facts remain unchanged:
printing quantities, SN
ranges,
etc...(with the exception of the replacement tally) - New discoveries wouldn't
be listed in a book already
published, price list or no price list...
2) No disputes over
pricing: what I paid, what you paid, who overpaid, who got a good deal....
etc
3) A lot of effort (and proofreading!) saved.
4) As
more notes appear of a tougher issue, the market (hopefully) would self
regulate. The collector would bid what
they thought was fair, and if outbid, oh well. No more, "did you see the prce he
paid for that note??? He's nuts!"
5) Fred could take out his
T,O,U,G,H manifesto on "what is it worth?" (page 186)
6) No price
fixing to keep the value up on a note thought to be worth more 'cause someone
paid alot for the note.
Fred
disgreed by stating, reference books without price guides don't sell as good as
books with price guides.
I won't drag it out, by saying I disagree with that
philosophy, but bottom line is Fred is author AND publisher. It's his book, and
he gets to do it his way.
I'm sure, I'll get some disagreements over this
letter. So, my parting words: where were you when the book was being written?
Now there is nothing you can do, but wonder which prices should have been
reviewed. Which are accurate, which are not. You snooze, you lose. No more
complaining. I did enough of that.
Phil
Hi Gramsters & Dave!
First, the point of my original letter, was to bring to "light"
(blacklight) :) that there are TWO (2) distinctive types of paper
used on MPC!! I think this is an important variety! Proof is Series #651!
ALL notes (series #651) in "my" collection, are on "High Bright Paper" I
have 2 complete sets plus have dozen $5 & $10 to compare. This is the "Key!"
for it proves there are two kinds of "paper!". ALSO I am reporting my
"FINDS" They are:
that some of my series #641 fractionals and one $1 and
some of the fractionals of Series #692 ALSO are in "High Bright Paper" And
of the 600+ notes I examined "in CU only", only (1) Series #461 $10 glows like a
"neon sign" or like a series #651 $10. It is probably a "rare run" perhaps an
experimental "roll of paper" or an "agent" in the "bleaching process" in making
the paper, that is sensitive to "Black light". So Gramsters "Look and
SEE!!" Report "YOUR High Brights" I've reported MINE!! Just think of the
added complexities of this impact to a "COMPLETE" set of MPC!! Multiple
Printings!, Replacements! High Bright Paper mixed in to this! Turns a note to
"Rare?" if it is the only one! Uncharted territory! Thanks Again
Guy!
This 3,500 lot auction will contain consignments from more than
130 consignors. The auction has a run of MPC, including two
straight-zeros specimen sets as well as an offering of 111 pieces of Series 651
50-cent
notes. This particular consignor has offered 13 dealer lots of
common circulated notes in groups of 10 pieces each, 18 lots of crisp
uncirculated notes in groups of 10-100 pieces each, and 30 lots of MPC
Replacement notes.
For additional information, contact:
Allen Mincho
at Allen@HeritageCurrency.com, or telephone 830-693-7590
Len Glazer at
Len@HeritageCurrency.com, or telephone
718-268-3221
or visit their website at www.HeritageCoin.com
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2002
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
WESPMEX: 27 - 28 July
Westchester Paper Money
Exposition - 175 Dealers
Westchester County Center, White Plains,
NY
WESPMEX: 11 - 13 October
Westchester Paper Money
Exposition - 100 Dealers
Westchester County Center, White Plains,
NY
WESPMEX: 29 November - 1 December
Westchester
Paper Money Exposition - 160 Dealers
Westchester County Center, White Plains,
NY
MPC Fest
IV: 28 Feb - 2 March, Port Clinton, OH
Jack Lippincot, Kevin Maloy,
Leo May$$, Fred Schwan, David Seelye, Nick
Shrier, Larry Smulczenski, Warner Talso,
Marcus Turner, Tom
Warburton
ANA: 19-22 March, Charlotte, NC
SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS
Please get them in soon. To date we only have
two applicants to date!
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
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 - DEALER & RESOURCE 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
Guy
Araby
(562) 945-7891 (310)
508-0018
guyaraby@earthlink.net
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 or Wide World of
Banknotes
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)
See S/B WWII
Remembered, page 301, #659 a, Tudor printed 20 Zwanzig deutsche marks,
condition VF, blue front looks great, slightly rounded corners, back is
primarily red with light greenish brown.
SN C11209704A, PN 2,
Asking $400
cash or trade for other MPC notes
Contact: forwebfootbob@earthlink.net
Have the following CU MPC NOTES:
Series 651
$10.00...........$200.00
Series 651 $5.00............$185.00
THE PAIR
AT $380.00 POSTPAID.
Continental Coin Investors, Inc.
3123 N. HWY
98
Lakeland, FL 33805-2103
Email: mpccoin@hotmail.com
Website: www.internet4coins.com
Comprehensive
Catalog of Military Payment Certificates - 4th Edition
by Fred Schwan
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 PayPal using email:
fredschwan@yahoo.com
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.
WANTED Souvenir Card 'MPC Fest I' from the first MPC
Fest. (4/18)
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. (4/18)
WANTED TO
BUY: Bulk quantities of Afghanistan propaganda leaflets or related. (4/18)
Looking for a Series 641 MPC, any denomination with the
serial number J02283151J. (4/18)
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 201, Bottom Right - Very last sentence on this page
Two serial numbers listed for the second printing of
Series 472 .50 cent
notes. The first serial number listed is obviously in error as a nine
digit number: C040351392C
Correct Serial Number is:
C04035139C
D Freyser (date
listed 10 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)
Staff:
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Tuesday Columnist :
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Friday
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Talso
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