============================================== * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Greetings, ============================================== ANA Seminar: 29 June to 5 July 2003 CPMX 9: 20 - 23 February, $$ = Paid =================================================== For further information, please contact: =================================================== FOR SALE SECTION: Standard Edition (400 pages!) $ 50 WANTED - Fancy Series 641 fractional notes - any condition. ===================================================
MPC GRAM
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Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics
Series 003 - Number 625 Saturday - 19 MAY 2002
___________________
__285 days to Fest IV__
FEATURED ARTICLE
Cherry Picking?
by Unknown Subscriber
My experience: Over a year ago, I was in a coin and gold/silver buy shop and after buying a bit of sterling silverware, I asked about MPC. They had the usual assortment in the case priced for too much money and I asked about anything else. When the box of unsorted was brought out, I looked through and found nothing unusual. Then I looked again and about fell over. Of course, I immediately pointed out to the owner that I wanted only the Series 472 .25 cent replacement note and how much did he want for this very rare quarter in XF!!!!
No such way!!! NFW!!! I went through the lot again looking for anything else that may have been unusual and finally picked out about 15 decoys of the 20 or so notes fine or less notes (mostly Viet nam era as I am a vet), and asked for a price. He said price it myself. Of course, I said thousands!!!!!!
Nah, I just hit him with $23!!!! Well, I got it and could not believe my good luck. And this is a store that does eBay!!!!
Of course, he had paid nichts for the lot which then came to me for the big bucks!!!! Knowledge is $$$$$$$!!!! I could have lost the lot by spending too much time with the lot. There is a balance between too little and too much time and interest that has to be struck and that varies with each owner. You need to be smart, calculating, intelligent, knowledgeable, poker faced, interested, restrained, friendly like a snake, sometimes dumb, but above all ~~~LUCKY!!! Herb Cohen's book would help. You Can Negotiate Anything.
I had used a good technique which I had then forgotten about in March of this year with a National Bank Note Intercourse, PA $5 bank note that I lost the buy on. You spook people with a high offer. Just grab it and go. Take the trash also!!! The Intercourse note was stuck in a vault in a jewelry store which the son had inherited. He had no idea of the value. However,once they think it is worth something, no cherry picking!!!
Maybe I will get it later on.
Next time: The story of the Atlanta GA Stooopid Major Gen's widow who "dumped" her husbands foot locker for "get it off" my hands $250!!!!!
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BOOK REVIEW
by Jim Downey
A few weeks ago in the Gram there was a mention of a new book regarding WWII prisoner of war camps in Wisconsin called Stalag Wisconsin. I believe it was just a notice that the book was published. I have read it and attached is my review of it.
TITLE: STALAG WISCONSIN - Inside WWII prisoner-of-war camps
AUTHOR: Betty Cowley
PUBLISHER: Badger Books, P.O. Box 192, Oregon, WI 53575
PRICE: $16.95
Stalag Wisconsin is a narrative history of the prisoner-of-war (PW1)
It is not an in-depth history of the camps, but a general survey. The author’s research revealed that the records of the branch camps were destroyed in the 1950s. Most of the information found in the book was gathered from newspaper articles and personal interviews with prisoners, guards and members of the local communities and their families. The stories depict life in the camps as well as the community reaction to and interaction with their unexpected -- and sometimes unwelcome – neighbors. The accounts are typical of those that are well known about the PW camps in the United States including informal and lax security, visits with American relatives, bungled escapes that end in taverns, etc. It is an easy and entertaining read. I tackled its 270 pages in a single weekend.
It seems that there is a paucity of information regarding PW camps in the US during WWII. In my limited travels, I have encountered only one other book on PW camps in the United States. That was a history of the camp at Ft. Gordon, GA that was written by the post historian in the 1970s, which I found at the post library and consists of an edition of 1. It is likely that other installations have similar histories and it may be worthwhile to scour the military libraries or correspond with the command historians to locate these resources. Despite its limited scope, Stalag Wisconsin fills a definite need in preserving the history of one of the lesser-known aspects of the war. I highly recommend it. The following are a few highlights of the book and its numismatic references.
Camp McCoy was the only base PW camp in Wisconsin. It housed all of the Japanese, Korean and other Asian PWs held by the US for the duration of the war as well as up to 5,000 Germans. The other 38 camps were satellite camps that temporarily housed German PWs from Fort Sheridan, IL who were shipped to Wisconsin to provide agricultural labor during the harvest and canning seasons. These satellite camps housed approximately 13,000 prisoners between 1944 and 1946.
The US government received $.50 per hour for the labor of each PW hired out. It cost the government $.35 per day to house each PW. One of the few primary documents cited by the author is an accounting of the amounts paid to the treasury for the PW labor from each camp as of September 1945. The farmers and canneries paid over $1,000,000.00 for PW labor from the Wisconsin camps alone! This was quite a windfall for the treasury.
PWs received $.80 per day for their labor and an additional $.10 per day for personal needs. They were paid in canteen coupons and were able to bank their wages. When PWs were repatriated they were paid the balance of their accounts in treasury checks which could be cashed by US personnel in their home country. (WWII Remembered shows an example of these checks on page 396).
Canteen coupons are mentioned a couple of times in Stalag Wiconsin and there is one cartoon drawn by a PW that depicts them. The cartoon shows a PW with a disgusted look on his face holding a container of milk in one hand and an open coupon book in the other that has only two coupons remaining. The English translation of the caption reads: “I don’t need a million . . . I only need five cents for milk.” There is enough detail in the drawing to identify that the coupons are consistent with those used in PW camps.
Of the Wisconsin camps, WWII Remembered only identifies Camp McCoy and Camp Billy Mitchell in Milwaukee as having issued their own coupons. As previously identified, Camp McCoy was a base camp that existed throughout the war. Camp Billy Mitchell was the largest of the Ft. Sheridan satellite camps in Wisconsin and remained from January 1945 until April 1946. Because of the size and permanent nature of these camps it is likely that they were the only camps to issue their own coupons. While all of the satellite camps had canteens, most of them housed only a few hundred PWs and were only active for the few short months of the harvest and canning seasons each year. It is probable that the satellite camps used coupons for Ft. Sheridan.
I acquired a few sheets of maverick canteen coupons a few months ago. They blank coupon checks with “P.O.W. Canteen” stamped on them without a location. I got them from the daughter of a gentleman who was an MP at the PW camp at Ft. Sheridan. I had assumed they were printed as a quick substitute for the Ft. Sheridan coupons but I imagine it is equally possible that they were printed for use in the satellite camps. (All of this is conjecture, of course, as it is also possible that these coupons are modern fabrications as this sort of overprint would be easy to duplicate. I trust my source, however, as she was a client of mine from Illinois who related to me the stories he told her about his time at Ft. Sheridan.)
1: PW is the current abbreviation used by the United States Army for prisoner-of-war. Under the heading of PW there are two subheadings: EPW (enemy prisoner-of-war) and APW (allied prisoner-of-war). In the modern United States Army lexicon a POW is a personally-owned-weapon.
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Editor:
Though not much material, I did get to GRAMS 623, one dated 5/15/2002 at 10:48 p. m. and the other dated 10/16 in the a.m., the one I'm responding to.
Don't get discouraged. We appreciate what your doing. I may offer something, but I'm afraid is in the offing.
Bill Murray
Dear Editor,
Joe Boling pointed out correctly that S/B mentions the use of BAFSV by British Forces in Japan, which I did know about. What I was trying to determine in response to Fred's question was - what did the UN countries, other than US and Britain use during the Korean War? What appears to be the case is that all Commonwealth countries, except Canada, used BAFSV, and all others were authorized to use MPC. I find no mention of that fact in S/B.
David Klinger
I have two complete unissued booklets of chits printed in a vertical format two wide by nine deep. The outer deep red cover is printed in this style three times so there are three intact booklets with a value of 1 pound each:
Officers' Mess :: 9 Warwick
£1
If found, please return to:
...............................................................
Inside are full pages of 18 chits for 1/, 6d, 6d, 3d, 3d, 2d, 2d, 2d, 1d, 1d,1d, 1/2d and 1/2d printed in various colors for each value with "OFFICERS" MESS" above and "9 WARWICK" below the value.
These came with a mixed lot of military items from a Dublin auction recently. Anybody have any idea as to what war and whomever issued them and for where? Cheers,
Colin R. Bruce II
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EDITORIAL
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
FILING IS CLOSED FOR 2002 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
Donations now being accepted for 2003 scholarships.
c/o Marcus Turner
8103 East US Highway 36
Suite 163
Avon, IN 46123
maturner@indy.rr.com
===================================================
HOT CONTACT LIST - DEALER & RESOURCE LIST
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
Series 471 5 Cents VG 5.00
Series 471 5 Cents VF 15.00
Series 471 5 Cents VF+ 20.00
Series 471 5 Cents EF - small stain 20.00
Series 471 5 Cents UNC - slight tear 52.50
Series 471 5 Cents UNC 90.00
Series 471 5 Cents Gem UNC 105.00
Series 471 10 Cents VG 3.50
Series 471 10 Cents F 6.00
Series 471 10 Cents F/VF 9.00
Series 471 10 Cents VF 12.00
Series 471 10 Cents EF 30.00
Series 471 10 Cents UNC 90.00
Series 471 10 Cents Gem UNC 110.00
Series 471 25 Cents VF stain 15.00
Series 471 25 Cents VF 27.50
Series 471 25 Cents Gem UNC 325.00
Series 471 50 Cents F/VF 25.00
Series 471 50 Cents AU 165.00
Series 471 50 Cents Gem UNC 400.00
Series 471 50 Cents CH. UNC off cut 500.00
contact David Seelye at coinman@rochester.rr.com
(621)
ALLIED MILITARY CURRENCY - GERMANY, Series 1944
Serial number prefix: 0, 00,1 or dash (-)
P-191a 1/2 Mark 9 digit with F, prefix 0 or 00 VF $3 XF $6 AU$8
P-192a 1 Mark, 9 digit with F, prefix 0, 00, or 1 F $1 VF $2 XF$4 AU $5 CU $6
P-192d 1 Mark, 8 digit with dash, no F, prefix dash F $1 VF $3 XF $5
P-193a 5 Mark, 9 digit with F, prefix 0 or 00 F $1 VF $2 XF $4 AU $5 CU $6
P-193b 5 Mark, 9 digit no F, prefix 1 CU $10
P-193d 5 Mark, 8 digit with dash, no F, prefix dash F $3 VF $5
P-194a 10 Mark, 9 digit with F, prefix 0 VG $4 F $7 VF $15 XF$22 AU $30 CU $40
P-194a 10 Mark, 9 digit with F, prefix 00 VG $6 F $10 VF $20 XF $30 AU $40
P-194b 10 Mark, 9 digit no F, prefix 1 CU $20
P-194d 10 Mark, 8 digit with dash, prefix dash F $7 VF $10
P-195a 20 Mark, 9 digit with F, prefix 0 VG $3 F $6 VF $9 XF $20
P-195b 20 Mark, 9 digit no F, prefix 1 F $5 VF $12 XF $20
P-195d 20 Mark, 8 digit no F, prefix dash F $3 VF $6 XF $10 AU $15 CU $20
P-196a 50 Mark, 9 digit with F, prefix 0 F $3
P-196d 50 Mark, 8 digit no F, prefix dash VG $2 F $3 VF $5 XF $10 AU $20
P-197a 100 Mark, 9 digit with F, prefix 0 F $10 VF $15 XF $20
P-197b 100 Mark, 9 digit no F, prefix 1 VF $10 XF $17
P-197d 100 Mark, 8 digit no F, prefix dash VG $ F $6 VF $8 XF $12
P-198b 1000 Mark, 8 digit no F, prefix dash AU $75 CU $95
Contact Ed Hoffman at: hoffman@rabbitbrush.com
(622)
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
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.
Wanted listings will run for a period of 1 month.
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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)
MPC Gram Staff:
Publisher: Fred Schwan - MPCGram@yahoo.com
Editor: Philip M. Goldstein - IWANTMYMPC@aol.com
Subscription Manager: 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
Distribution Manager: Brad Peacock - bp22@swbell.net
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 -