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==============================================
MPC GRAM
==============================================
Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics
Series 003 - Number 619
Thursday - 09 MAY 2002
___________________
__295 days to Fest
IV__
FEATURED
ARTICLE
Incinerated
Notes
by Larry
Smulczenski
A
couple of neat hobby related incidents happened to me this past week that I
would like to share with you all. I will relate one now and save the other for
next week. Last Sunday, my next door neighbor decided to have a pot luck type
neighborhood gathering. She invited the folks up and down the street to
bring a dish and what ever you wanted to drink and come by to enjoy a
get-together with friends. About thirty couples came, so there was plenty
of food to share. I was enjoying an exchange with two Air Force retirees
when the subject of Viet Nam came up. It always does, so naturally I had
to interject my interest in MPC. They both remembered using the "stuff"
but neither had brought any home. However, this one fellow named Jim says,
"Let me tell you a story."
He said it was a couple of months after
Tet and he was stationed in Saigon. He claimed to be an old Captain at the
time when the Colonel called him into his office and said that he was being
detailed to the Army for a special mission. It was classified, and the
Army would do all work and all Jim needed to do was observe. Seems that the Army
unit was shorthanded for officers and had asked the Air Force to provide an
officer for this detail. Jim was hesitant as he really didn't relish
beating the bushes with the Army. He reported as ordered and was briefed
on his duties which was to accompany an Army platoon led by a lieutenant which
was to drive northwest to the outskirts of Saigon and destroy several dozens of
boxes of paper in a Bessemer Converter that was owned by an old Frenchman at his
plant. The Bessemer Converter was Jim's recollection. Since I grew
up in Pittsburgh, and saw these mighty furnaces lighting up the nighttime sky, I
doubted that there were any like that in Viet Nam. Probably just a decent
size furnace, since there were even very few of them in South Viet Nam.
Anyway, the dawn
began to break for me as it probably has for many of you. I had to ask,
"What month was this, Jim?" He answered, "Hell, I don't know. It was in
late 1968." Yes, you probably guessed, Jim was a destruction officer for
Series 641 MPC as the changeover from Series 641 to Series 661 occurred on 21
October 1968. The convoy arrived at the plant and it took a little while
for the old gent to light the furnace and get it blazing. The Army troops
began carrying the boxes to the furnace and wanted to pitch them in
intact. Jim claims to have ordered them to break open the boxes and pitch
the packs of bills into the fire. This took a lot more time, and caused
some grumbling among the troops, but Jim realized that stacks of paper just
charred around the edges rather than being totally consumed even in a
furnace. When the boxes had been emptied, Jim claims that he asked to
inspect the ashes in the in the bottom of the furnace. He said that
everyone was amazed that even though the furnace was putting out an intense
heat, there were packs of notes that had passed through the grates and were
lying in the ashes almost intact. Maybe a bit seared around the edges, but
still an almost complete note. Jim had the Army sift through the ashes and
pull out any remaining notes and burn them in another fire that was
started. But can you understand why we sometimes encounter a piece of MPC
that has a trace of a burn on it. Could be that it was headed for
destruction and somehow evaded the fire in the furnace.
I just had to
ask Jim if he was sure that he hadn't saved just a couple of the notes as
souvenirs. He stoutly proclaimed that he and the lieutenant certified all
the contents of the boxes were destroyed and that they were. Oh well, I
tried. But isn't it interesting how these stories pop up.
DID YOU KNOW:
That yesterday the 8th of May in 1945 was VE day in Europe and
that today in 1945 the ceremony to ratify the German surrender occurred in
Berlin. This was less than a month after President Roosevelt had died and
President Truman while making the announcement wished that Roosevelt had
survived to enjoy the occasion.
==============================================
MAIL
CALL
Gramsters:
We have just updated our web site inventory
with the latest additions. Check it out to see if we can send you anything.:
www.butternut.org
The next two weekends I will be headed
"Westward Ho". This next weekend I will be at the 44th Annual Texas Numismatic
Associations Convention. It will be held May 10, 11, and 12 in the Amon Carter
Center in the Will Rogers Complex, 3401 West Lancaster, off I-30 and University
Drive of Montgomery, Ft. Worth, Texas. Hours
are:
Friday: 1 PM to 7 PM,
Saturday: 9 AM to 6 PM,
Sunday: 9 AM to 3 PM.
It is
always a great show, run by great people, so if you're in the area, be sure to
attend.
Steve Ellsworth
* *
* * *
* * *
* *
Just to let you know that I have received two MPC GRAM 618's
as you requested in an earlier Gram. This is the first glitch I have had
in a long time.
Barnacle Bill
==============================================
EDITORIAL
Attention Gramsters:
Apparently several days ago, I published a letter that was not
meant to be published. Fred brought it to my attention, and it was through no
fault of my own. Please understand, anything submitted to MPCGram@yahoo.com
without any instructions as to the dispositon of the letter, will be
considered for publication.
Once again, if it for Fred's eyes only,
either send it to Fred direct a FredSchwan@yahoo.com or please
put "NOT FOR PUBLICATION" in the subject line. This will avoid any future
complications / publication. I like to think I do a darn good job running the
gram efficiently and when little problems like this crop up, I get the
"publisher" breathing down my neck. These problems can be solved by a simple
measure of communication
==============================================
CALENDAR OF
EVENTS
2002
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
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
2003
CPMX 9: 20 - 23 February,
MPC Fest
IV: 28 Feb - 2 March, Port Clinton, OH
Fest Registrants: Doug Bell, Joe Boling, Guido
Crapanzano, Dick Freyser, Philip M. Goldstein, Gary
Hicks, Harold Kroll,
Jack Lippincot, Kevin Maloy,
Leo May$$, Fred Schwan, David Seelye, Nick
Shrier, Larry Smulczenski, Warner Talso,
Marcus Turner, Tom
Warburton
$$ = Paid
Running total: 17
ANA: 19-22 March, Charlotte, NC
===================================================
SCHOLARSHIP
DONATIONS
Reminder: The deadline for scholarship applications is
May 15.
Please get them in 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
maturner@indy.rr.com
Donors to 2002
Scholarship Fund:
Dave
Amey
Gail
Baker
Keith and Sue Bauman Doug
Bell
Bay Bows
Angus
Bruce
Carlson
Chambliss
Ort
Cowles
Guido Crapanzano Mike
Cummings
Howard A. Daniel,
III Sam
Feeback
Steve
Feller
George Fitzgerald Dick
Freyser
Al
Glaser
Philip M.
Goldstein
Wes
Hardy
Rod
Hardy
Gary Hicks
Ed
Hoffman
Tom
Koch
Harold
Kroll
Tim
Kyzivat
Jack Lippincott
Kevin
Maloy
Ian
Marshall
Leo
May
R. A.
Medina
Marv Mericle
Mr.
691
John
Pettit
Bruce
Potter
Gene
Ryan
Unknown Subscriber
Fred
Schwan
David
Seelye
Joel
Shafer
Neil
Shafer
Larry Smulczenski
Warner
Talso
Marcus
Turner
Russ
Walsh
Tom Warburton Mark
Watson
Pam
West
John & Nancy Wilson Bill
Yanchick
===================================================
HOT CONTACT LIST - DEALER &
RESOURCE 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, or furnish information dedicated
to this field. They have supported the new Comprehensive Catalog of Military
Payment Certificates with their advertising.
They deserve
your support and patronage!
Name
phone
fax /
cell
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 (305) 720-0659
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)
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
SECTION:
For Sale ads will run for a period of up to 5 days, or until
sold.
Series
461 5
Cents
F
5.00
Series 461 5
Cents
F/VF
6.00
Series 461 5
Cents
VF
7.50
Series 461 5
Cents
A.EF
12.50
Series 461 5
Cents
EF
stain
11.50
Series 461 5
Cents
EF
19.00
Series 461 5
Cents
AU
45.00
Series 461 5
Cents
UNC
63.00
Series 461 5
Cents
GEM
UNC
90.00
Series 461 10
Cents
F/VF
6.00
Series 461 10
Cents
VF
7.50
Series 461 10
Cents
EF
18.00
Series 461 10
Cents
AU
40.00
Series 461 10
Cents
Gem
UNC
95.00
Series 461 25
Cents
EF
40.00
Series 461 25
Cents
EF/AU
49.50
Series 461 25
Cents
AU
75.00
Series 461 25
Cents
AU/UNC
110.00
Series 461 25
Cents
UNC bent corner 100.00
Series
461 25
Cents
Choice
UNC
175.00
Series 461 50
Cents
VF
18.75
Series 461 50
Cents
VF+
37.50
Series 461 50
Cents
EF
pinhole
55.00
Series 461 50
Cents
EF
80.00
Series 461 50
Cents
EF/AU
100.00
Series 461 50
Cents
About UNC-UNC 130.00
Series 461 50
Cents
CHOICE UNC
195.00
Series 461 1
Dollar
VF
10.00
Series 461 1
Dollar
EF
18.50
Series 461 1
Dollar
UNC bent corner 100.00
Series
461 1
Dollar
CH
UNC
175.00
Series 461 1
Dollar
GEM
UNC
225.00
Series 461 10
Dollars
VG
15.00
Series 461 10
Dollars
VF
45.00
Series 461 10
Dollars
EF
75.00
Series 461 10
Dollars
EF/AU
150.00
Series 461 10
Dollars
AU
175.00
Series 461 10
Dollars
CH
UNC
300.00
contact David Seelye at coinman@rochester.rr.com
(05May)
Sixty (60) Vietnam
transitional notes from the same pack. The front shows "Republic of
Socialist Vietnam," the denomination (2 dong's), and the communist emblem of the
country. The back shows the "Ham Rong" bridge and pagoda, boat, number 2, and
"National Bank of Vietnam".Those notes are from the time era when the country
was ruled by a military totalitarian regime.
All for $37, including
shipping.
Contact: ttnguyen@oppd.com
(05May)
Comprehensive
Catalog of Military Payment Certificates - 4th Edition
by Fred Schwan
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 PayPal using email:
fredschwan@yahoo.com
WANTED
SECTION:
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
(date listed: 02 APRIL 2002)
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)
===================================================
MPC Gram
Staff:
Publisher:
Fred Schwan
-
MPCGram@yahoo.com
Editor:
Philip M. Goldstein
-
IWANTMYMPC@aol.com
Subscriptions /
Mailing
List
Doug Bell
-
doug@papermoneyworld.net
Tuesday Columnist
:
Joe Boling
-
JoeBoling@aol.com
Thurski
Columnist:
Larry "Ski" Smulczenski
- skifla@prodigy.net
Friday
Columnist:
Fred Schwan
-
MPCGram@yahoo.com
Critic:
Harold Kroll
-
HARBONS@aol.com
Scholarship
Coordinator:
Marcus Turner
-
maturner@indy.rr.com
Index &
Back Issue
Manager: Ed
Beaman
-
ebeaman@sprynet.com
Webmaster &
Technical Advisors: Doug Bell "Wiz"
-
doug@papermoneyworld.net
Russ Walsh
-
russ.walsh@gte.net
Fact
Checker:
Warner Talso
-
Calendar
Coordinator:
John & Nancy Wilson -
The
Boss:
Judy Schwan
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