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MPC GRAM
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Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics

Series 003 - Number 628      Tuesday - 21 MAY 2002
___________________
__283 days to Fest IV__


FEATURED ARTICLE


A local Seattle issue celebrating victory in WWII
by Joseph Boling

       Soon after retiring to Seattle I paid a visit to Bill Henderson in nearby Puyallup (pronounced "pew-wallop" for those of you who have always wondered). Among stacks of items I bought that day was an interesting note in the size of a small-size US note, black on one side, green on the other. The black side, in a note-looking design of lettering and scrollwork, says U.S. ARMY RECREATIONAL CAMP in an arch across the top. In the center is a large numeral 5, with JEFFERSON PARK above and SEATTLE, WASHINGTON below. In the bottom frame BUCKS, and then Redeemable by merchandise during our victory fair only! in small print below "bucks." In the left field is a navy crest (eagle and shield over crossed anchors); in the right field an Army hat insignia crest. Counters 5 in the upper corners contrast to FIVE in the lower corners. There is one serial number, above the army crest; in this case "No 00002," which added to my interest in the piece.
   
       The other side, in green has exactly the same frame, with the arched major inscription, BUCKS at the bottom, and the convertibility clause below that. In the center is a portrait of Uncle Sam; above that in small letters Jefferson Park Seattle, Washington spread across under the major inscription. In the left field is the seal of the city of Seattle, with This Certificate is Tender/for Merchandise Only above. In the fight field, FIVE/in merchandise. No serial number, no signatures on this side. Were the colors reversed, we would have no problem assigning this as the face side, but since the other side is black and has the serial number, it looks more like a face; it's a tossup.
   
       So, who issued this, when, for what? I didn't know. Local TAMS members know about the issue, and say that they are not worth a lot (but are rarely seen). One traded in a CAA auction several years ago for about $50. For several years I showed my SN #2 piece in my personal exhibit at the Puyallup Fair (a 17-day event at which the PNNA has a staffed table for all hours that the fair is open), hoping that someone who knew the piece would stop and talk to me about it (I still show it every year, now accompanied by a 10 bucks note).
   
       Finally, in 1996 someone did stop. He said that he had a few of these pieces at home. He had received them after the war (late 1945) while he was a kid with a paper route on Fort Lewis; a soldier/customer had given them to him to use as play money. He had done so for a while, and then they ended up in a cigar box (of course!), where they still were. He knew nothing about how they had been used when they were issued. I made an appointment to go see them.
   
       This is what he had in his hoard:

5 bucks - all with SN: 00261, 00557, 00907, 01043, 01702, 01770, 02041, 03373
10 bucks w/SN: 01509, 01635, 02181
10 bucks, 3 pcs w/o SN
10 bucks, 2 pcs w/o SN but w/ stamped signature on the black side, bottom right; the signature seems to be Ralph J. Sitts [Setts, Selts, Gitts, Getts, Gelts]
10 bucks, 3 pcs w/o SN but w/the same stamped signature on the green side in three different places and orientations: diagonal upside down at left end between seal and frame; lower right below "merchandise"; upside down left end above tender clause.
   
       Although denser or lighter printing variations exist among notes, there is no correlation to the presence or lack of SN. All paper seems to be the same, cream wove bond w/out watermark. Some 5 buck pieces have a defective “BY” in green side lower legend (part of the bottom of each character is missing). Note the high serial numbers (and the fact that separate blocks of numbers were apparently not used for the different denominations); this was not a puny emission.
   
       I bought three pieces from him for $100 and retained two others to put in the 1997 CPMX auction (one of each denomination). However, CAA said they wanted a minimum total consignment of $1000, so the two pieces went to the NW TAMS auction in Vancouver, Wash in August 1997. I don't recall what they brought, as the realization check was passed directly to the owner without going through my accounts, and I did not note the amount in his correspondence file. However, I recall that it was less than I had paid (less than $33.33 per note).
   
       OK, back to the when and where. Jefferson Park still exists; it is primarily a golf course on the ridge of Beacon Hill in Seattle between the old Public Health hospital (now corporate HQ for Amazon.com) and the VA hospital. I visited and talked to the staff; they knew nothing of any recreational camp in 1945.
   
       I went to the UW library and dug into the Seattle Times on microfiche. I found the following (in addition to the many articles on Admiral Darlan that I mentioned last week):
   
       6 Sept 1945 Seattle Times, p17--Army/Navy recreational camp with a capacity of 1000 beds, but 1200 were accommodated on the previous Saturday night. Camp commander Capt Haywood A. Moncrief Jr. [The camp's purpose was to provide overnight accommodations for soldiers and sailors on pass in Seattle, so they would not have to return to camp or ship in the evening.]
   
       18 October 1945 Seattle Times, p2--camp, under the administrative control of Fort Douglas, scheduled to close on 1 November. Various Seattle service organizations object to the early closure, and ask that it remain open for several more months. No further mention noted through 31 October.
   
       I don't recall why I stopped looking right at 31 October; probably ran out of time that day (it took quite a while to look through a week's worth of papers on fiche). Of course, I started searching immediately after VJ day looking for something about the "victory fair" that is cited on the notes; no mention of that was ever found, as either a military or a city function.
   
       In my opinion, the denominations represent a nickel and a dime. $5 or $10 was far too high a denomination for such scrip in 1945.
   
       As far as I know, the fellow who had them in 1997 still has them. Anyone want me to contact him again?

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EDITORIAL


Memorial Day approching... How about a few letters / articles for the the Gram. I'm sure there is someone out there who can write something in connection with paper money and the military.

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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

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SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS

FILING IS CLOSED FOR 2002 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Donations now being accepted for 2003 scholarships.


For further information, please contact:


Military Numismatists
c/o Marcus Turner
8103 East US Highway 36
Suite 163
Avon, IN 46123

maturner@indy.rr.com

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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


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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 SECTION:
For Sale ads will run for a period of up to 5 issues, or until sold.


Series 471   1 Dollar                       F                                                     14.00
Series 471   1 Dollar                       VF                                                  29.50
Series 471   1 Dollar                       VF-EF                                            40.00
Series 471   1 Dollar                       EF                                                   85.00
Series 471   1 Dollar                       AU                                                 150.00
Series 471   1 Dollar                       CH. UNC       bent corner else    175.00
Series 471   5 Dollars                      F                                                    675.00
Series 471   5 Dollars                      VF                                                 1250.00
Series 471   5 Dollars                      EF                                                  2500.00
Series 471  10 Dollars                     EF                                                  600.00
Series 471  10 Dollars                     AU                                                1000.00
Series 471  10 Dollars                     UNC                                              2250.00

contact David Seelye at coinman@rochester.rr.com

(626)

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

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.
Wanted listings will run for a period of 1 month.


WANTED - Fancy Series 641 fractional notes - any condition. (5/18)



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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 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)

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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 -