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MPC GRAM
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Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics
Series 003 - Number 635 Thursday -
30 MAY 2002
___________________
__274 days to Fest IV__
FEATURED ARTICLE
The Last Thurski in May
by Larry Smulczenski
The June issue of the Bank Note Reporter
arrived in the mail today. It's always a special day when this newspaper
arrives. There are always interesting articles, announcements and ads
that are featured in this monthly paper. This one was no exception.
A wrap around advertisement for Lyn Knight Auctions promoting the Memphis,
Dallas and St. Louis Currency Auctions surrounded the paper. The featured
article on the first page was again the Knight auction with "4000 lots
packed into Memphis". More on that later. Right below that was a
picture of a 10 cent Series 541 MPC note with an inverted and misregistured
back. The photo leads you to a story about two such amazing errors that
went on separate paths, were both culled out of circulation, saved and both
surfaced recently. Of course it is Fred Schwan that spins the story in his own
inimitable way. It was good to see that Fred and MPC atleast got a small piece
of the front page. I won't ruin the story for you if you haven't
read it yet, as it is one of those priceless tales that will go down in MPC
folklore.
A little post scrip to the article, is
that I remember finding an envelope in a filing cabinet on one of our trips to
the Archives that had probably 20 different Series 541 errors in it. Everything
from miscuts to mislocated serial numbers to smeared ink patterns etc. I
am pretty sure there was one of these misregistured notes in the
grouping. I was so impress with what i was holding in my hands that I
didn't write anything down about this group so I can't swear to it, but there
may be a third example out there although it is one that will never end up in a
private collection.
Leafing back thru the paper we find that
Gramster Dave Seelye has a two page ad listing nothing but MPC and world wide
military notes. If your looking to add to your collection, you should be
able to find something you need here.
There are also two articles by Joel and
Neil Shafer detailing some of the lots in the Knight Memphis Auction. If
you haven't gotten your copy of this auction catalog, your missing
something. These catalogs are a storehouse of valuable information and
are definitely collectors items. The color photographs of offered notes
is worth the price of a subscription in itself, but moreso, each auction has
brought new finds to the hobby that is adding valuable information to what we
already know. One page that really stunned me was the set of
specimens from the Cassa Mediterranea di Credito per L'Egitto issue. These are
the notes that were printed for the Italian invasion and occupation of Egypt
but which were never issued. What a fantastic find this is and to
top it off it includes a value not listed in World War II
Remembered. I had previously only seen ONE of these notes.
That was at least five or six years ago, maybe more, and that one had been
professionally reconstructed from two halves. I was thrilled to see that
one, but this set is unbelievable. Of course, so is the estimate.
For those of you who haven't seen the catalog, the estimated price is $180,000
to $250,000. This has to be a record estimate for a set of world wide
notes. If this number is correct and the lot realizes that kind of money,
we will really have something to talk about.
Another real find, actually two lots, is
the Philippine essays on card or maybe paste-up proposals offered to the
Philippine Central Bank circa 1950 by the American Banknote Company. Some
of you old time gramsters may remember an article I wrote in Gram 268 about the
competition for the contract to print fractional currency for the
Philippines won by Security Banknote Co. American Banknote was the low
bidder, but could not respond quick enough so did not get the contract.
These cards could have been proposals for other values that emerged either from
the Philippines or from the American Banknote Company Archives sale. If you
don't remember the story and can't retrieve it, email me and I will
forward you a copy. The thing that interests me is that the vignette of
the peasant girl used on these paste-ups is the same vignette used on the
unissued 20 zlotych "liberation note" printed for Poland by
ABNC. A number of these Polish notes came out of the ABNC Archive
sale. Believe me, I never saw any young lady dressed like that in the
Philippines when I was there.
There are hundreds more military notes in this auction
catalog that you can spend several evenings drooling over. I'm sure this
is going to be another very interesting sale.
DID YOU KNOW?
That as a result of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, there was concern that the
Japanese would retaliate by attacking the west coast of the United
States. In fact they did, but the attack and occupation was on some
islands in the Aleutian Island chain of Alaska and not on
California. It was on this day in 1943, that the United States reclaimed
Attu in the Aleutians from Japanese domination. There are some club chits
from Attu that were issued during World War II. The cover for a chit book
of that time frame is illustrated in World War II Remembered on page
428.
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MAIL CALL
Excerpt From the June 4 Numismatic News:
A Janesville, Wis., man faces up to 15
years in prison if convicted of stealing paper money May 18 during the
Numismatists of Wisconsin Iola show.
According to the criminal complaint,
Douglas W. Stener, 54, was observed at the show by dealer Michael Schiller, of
Allouez, Wis., and Iola policeman Aaron Reineking, stealing paper money owned
by dealer Don Fisher, of Currency Unlimited, Decatur, Ill. The
complaint said Stener dropped notes into his lap as he examined a stack given
him by Fisher. Stener then took several bills out of his pocket and showed them
to Fisher, meanwhile transferring the bills from his lap to his jacket pocket.
Stener was searched as he left the building, and 11 bills, valued at $6,545,
were found on his person.
Fisher identified the bills as his and
said he had no transactions with Stener. Schiller recognized Stener as a
suspect in other thefts and pointed him out to police as Stener entered the
building. Stener was charged May 20 in Waupaca County Circuit Court with one
count of felony theft and released on a $10,000 signature bond, although
Assistant District Attorney William Lennon had asked for a cash bond. "We
were concerned about the amounts involved and the sophistication of his
M.O.," Lennon said, "but the judge felt otherwise."
Lennon said information on the case has
been forwared to Rockford, Ill., and Sheboygan, Wis., police for their
investigations into similar thefts that Stener is a suspect in.
* *
* * *
* * *
* *
Hey, Joe, Fred, etc.:
Please don't ask me where I first read this but"Bizonia" was a name
used for the American and British zones of occupation of post-WW II
Germany. I must admit that my only 'verification' for this, is that
'sometime' and 'somewhere' in my readings of the history of post-WW II Europe,
I read such a definition. I know my credentials may be suspect however, Fred
can vouch for my being pretty good about spotting WW II related material. Oh,
and for an intersting read on Nazi PW experiences in the US, check out
"Nazis in the Piney Woods" which is about PW's in Deep East
Texas.
Jay
Jackson
* *
* * *
* * *
* *
To the Gram:
In answer to Joe Boling's question about Bizonia: Bizonia was the name given to
the British and US occupation zones in Germany which were merged for economic
reasons on January 1, 1947. The administrative responsibility for running
Bizonia was put in the hands of an elected economic council of fifty-two
Germans who, under Allied supervision, shouldered the task of economic
reconstruction. When the French joined the economic arrangement the name
was changed to Trizonia.
Jim Downey
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EDITORIAL
Anything new and exciting happening out there in MPCLand lately? It has been
very quiet here. We have a vacancy for the position of Index Manager. Ed Beaman
cchose to relinquish his post, so if any one would be interested in saving each
issue of the Gram to both a print out and to disk, please contact either Doug
or myself.
I also have an unusual request to anyone who can help me. I need a copy of the
most recent CAA auction catalog ( The auction with the MPC specimen sets in it)
I never received mine, and now find myself in need of a copy for reference
purposes. Can anyone help?
Phil
==============================================
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
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
===================================================
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
541 $10 xf /
xf
$1250
SN F11420626F PN 28
Series 591 $5 f / f -
with hole in center from
folding
$400
SN
G01590625G PN 49
Series 591 $10 unc - with 1/8"
tear top dead center
-
$3000
SN
G02225825G PN 29
cannot be seen when in holder - sharp square corners, the unc
in Lyn Knights auction sold for 6k+, this is an affordable
alternative
Series 611 $5 vf+ /
vf+
$1300
SN H02336122H PN 43
Series 611 $10 xf+ / xf+ gorgeous
note. 3 light folds, but looks
au
$450
SN 04598956H PN 25
scans available upon request!
reply to Phil: iwantmympc@aol.com
FOR
SALE: ALLIED MILITARY AUTHORITY CURRENCY FOR AUSTRIA. 1944 ISSUE
P-102b 50
Groschen XF
$1 AU
$2 CU $3
P-103a 1
Schilling
F $2 VF $3
P-103b 1
Schilling
F $1 VF
$2 XF $3
P-104b 2
Schillings
XF $3 AU $4
P-105 5
Schillings
VF $3 XF
$4 AU $5
P-106a 10
Schillings (no
fractional line in prefix number) F $3
VF$4 XF
$5 AU $6
P-106b 10
Schillings (with
fractional line in prefix number) VF+ $5
P-107 20 Schillings
F $3 AU $8
P-109 50
Schillings VF
$8 XF
$10 AU $12
P-110a 100
Schillings (no
fractional line in prefix number) F
$6 VF$8
AU $12
P-110b 100
Schillings (with
fractional line in prefix number) F $6 VF $8
RUSSIAN OCCUPATION - WWII - 1945 issue
P-113b 1
Reichsmark VF
$10 AU $20
ALLIED ISSUE FOR BELGIUM - GOVERNMENT IN EXILE - ISSUE 1-2-43
P-121 5
Francs
F $3 VF
$4 XF
$5 AU $6
P-122 10
Francs
F $3 VF
$4 XF
$5 AU $6
P-123 100
Francs
F $10 VF
$15 XF $20
P-124 500
Francs
F $50 VF $75
MILITARY ISSUE OF 1-8-46
P-M1 1 Franc prefix
'A' F $15 VF
$25
P-M4 10 Francs prefix
'A'
F $50
Please confirm availability with Ed @ hoffman@rabbitbrush.com
Thank you Phil,
ED
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)
WANTED -
Philippine Guerrila Money (5/26)
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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)
===================================================
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:
vacant
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 -