============================================== D-Day DID YOU KNOW? * *
* * *
* * *
* * Series 641 den
starting
ending
den starting
ending
den starting ending Ladder Note, IWANTMYMPC's Military
Payment Certificate & Military Currency
Website * *
* * *
* * *
* * Last night the episode of M*A*S*H concerning Hawkeye (Alan
Alda) as paymaster aired. Naturally, as any self respecting MPC Collector would
do, I leaned closer to pay attention and to pick apart the
episode. ============================================== ============================================== ANA Seminar: 29 June to 5 July 2003 CPMX 9: 20 - 23 February, $$ = Paid ===================================================
FOR SALE SECTION: Standard Edition (400 pages!)
$ 50 WANTED - Fancy Series 641 fractional notes - any condition.
===================================================
===================================================
MPC GRAM
==============================================
Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics
Series 003 -
Number 641 Thursday - 06 JUNE 2002
___________________
__267 days to Fest IV__
FEATURED ARTICLES
by Larry
Smulczenski
The allied invasion of
Normandy was actually scheduled to begin the morning of 05 June 1944 some 58
years ago. However highwinds and rough seas forced a postponement of the
plan known as Operation Overlord. Weather conditions were still not good
on the night of 5 June, but weather reports indicated that the storm coming in
from the Atlantic was moving faster than anticipated. Predictions were that
conditions beginning late on 5 June and lasting through the next morning would
be fair with a drop in wind velocity and some breaks in the clouds. The
conditions were marginal at best. Eisenhower and his staff huddled to make the
decision knowing full well that the American fleet had to be launched almost
immediately. If a subsequent decision was made to abort after that, it
would take the fleet two days to be ready to go again. That two day
postponement would mean a change in tidal conditions which would not be right
for an amphibious landing until June 19th--again with no assurance of good
weather. Eisenhower made the decision and some 5000 ships headed for the
French coast. Thus began one of the largest sea and air invasions of World War
II, an event we know as D-Day the 6th of June.
Along with the troops went an issue of
Allied Military Currency, which we call the Supplemental French Franc or the
Flag back issue. These notes were printed well in advance by Forbes
Lithograph Company, but had not been approved by the French Committee of
National Liberation. General de Gaulle protested their use and called the
series "counterfeit money". This series was put into use immediately after
the landing and continued in use until it was withdrawn on the 15th of June
1945. At that time, the Provisional French franc or France back issue was
substituted for the Flag back issue. The high values for the supplemental
franc (500 and 1000 francs) are difficult to find and are expensive. The
5000 franc note was printed, but was not issued. It is believed to exist
only in specimen form.
Forbes used an eight wheel numbering
machine on these notes without a prefix or suffix letter, so that when the
serial number got to 99,999.999 a block number was printed on the note.
For these supplemental francs only the 2, 5 and 100 franc notes exceeded the 100
million printing quantity which resulted in their exhibiting the block "2"
designation. The series was extensively counterfeited while in use. This
counterfeiting problem may have resulted in limiting the number of high value
notes in circulation. This in turn may be the reason for the scarcity of
the high values mentioned above. The counterfeits are interesting and
range from excellent forgeries to pretty poor examples that could only be passed
in a dimly lit bar and then only to a drunken sailor. I have a 500 franc
counterfeit whose colors are very washed out and the serial number is almost
double the number of notes that were printed, but it still saw an excessive
amount of circulation, if it's condition is any indication. But only a
collector would recognize that the serial number is too high and most users
would not recognize the color problem, unless they had two notes to compare to
one another. Also very few World War II G.I.'s would be walking around
with two 500 franc notes in their pockets.
Anyway, the next time you look at your
Flag back French AMC, try to imagine that young soldier. sailor, airman or
marine that might have held some of these notes after participating in Operation
Overlord.
That at the same time
Operation Overlord was happening on the northern coast of France, American and
British troops were occupying Rome. This was the first Axis capital to
fall into Allied hands. The city was taken without a shot as the Germans had
evacuated a couple of days earlier. So as French AMC was being introduced
in France, Italian AMC was continuing its use up the Italian peninsula.
by Philip M. Goldstein
Series 641 -
Specifications
Issued:
31
August 1965
Withdrawn: 21 October 1968
Printer:
US
Bureau of Engraving & Printing
Block Letter
Regular:
J-J
Replacements: J-
Used In:
Vietnam
Multiple Printings: Yes - 3
Vignettes
FRONT
BACK
vignette engraver
vignette engraver
Fractionals Nicole
Richard M. Bower
$1
Edward J. Hein
$5
Laura Richard M. Bower
Europa Arthur W. Dintaman
$10
Marcus W. Baldwin
Liberty Richard M. Bower
Multiple Printing SN
Ranges
FIRST PRINTING
SECOND PRINTING
THIRD PRINTING
5˘
J00000001J J04032000J 5˘
J04032001J J09408000J 5˘
J09408001J J22848000J
10˘
J00000001J J04032000J 10˘ J04032001J
J10080000J
10˘ J10080001J
J23520000J
25˘ J00000001J
J02680000J 25˘ J02680001J J05376000J
25˘ J05376001J J12096000J
50˘ J00000001J
J02016000J 50˘ J02016001J J04704000J
50˘ J04704001J J11424000J
$1 J00000001J
J06720000J $1
J06720001J J10640000J $1
J10640001J J33040000J
$5
J00000001J J01600000J $5
J01600001J J02800000J $5
J02800001J J06800000J
$10
J00000001J
J03600000J $10 J03600001J J08400000J
$10 J08400001J J20400000J
Series 641 was the first issue to
be issued in a single country - Vietnam. It is also the only issue to be issued
in a single country without a $20 denomination note. Also, Series 641 was an
issue with large production numbers, therefore making it an easier series to
collect in Uncirculated. Replacements for the Fractional Denominations are
readily available, yet the Replacements for the Whole Dollar Denominations are
slightly more difficult, but known. In recent months, a group of previously
unreported Series 641 $5 and $10 notes recently surfaced and have made
themselves available for reasonable prices.
Series 641 also is the first series
that has (in my opinion) a disproportionately high amount of fancy and specialty
notes over other previous series. Known and confirmed in existence are the
following:
Radar Note,
Repeater Note,
Solid
Note,
SWIMS Note,
Flipper Notes,
Complete Packs,
Progressive Proof
Sets,
Specimen Notes (both loose and in bound booklet form)
Extremely
Low Serial Numbers for both Regular and Replacement
Notes,
Counterfeits,
and other variations of collectable notes...
I hope to assemble most of the above from
various collections and display them together at Fest IV.
It is also the
authors pleasure to announce that the Series 641 Specimen Set recently sold in
the May 17th 2002 CAA auction we be joining the Series 641 .10 cent Progressive
Proof Set in the same collection.
Details about the purchase and the
Series 641 .10 Progressive Proof Set will be made available shortly on my
website at:
==============================================
Hello David,
Yes, I look forward to seeing you at
ANA. Be sure to take your pay book!!!!!! On your ancient MPC article. I can only
guess that Phil and I in combination screwed it up. It WAS NOT rejected. We HAVE
rejected a few items that were too political and a few that had NO relevance,
but the ancient article should have been published. Like I said, I probably
goofed it up! Do you have another copy that you can send? I/we might be able to
find it, but receiving another copy might be the easiest and best way. Phil is
MUCH more organized than I am and doing a good/great job at all of this, but
every now and then I get involved and mess things up!
Fred
Hi Guys -
Just a
note to you Gramsters about a show on the History Channel tonight
(6/6/02). Its about WW2 camps in the USA and how the POWs were
treated. It might be interesting and since they will be talking about how
we treated them there should be some mention of the money they could earn, their
canteens and how they paid for what they wanted to buy. I think it is at 8
or 9 o'clock but you will have to check your local listings for the time in your
area. My best to you all and I hope to see many of you in Memphis next
week.
Leo May
(editors note:
This episode airs at 8:00 pm EST / &:00 Central on the History Channel. Also
I do believe all History Channel episodes are available on VHS tape. )
* *
* * *
* * *
* *
First: As he pays to a soldier, he counts off to the
soldier an X amount of dollars and 63 cents, handing the soldier individual
notes for the 3 cents...
Problem: There were no 1 cent MPC
notes.
Second: After pay was disbursed, he was left with "$10"
extra which he hands to Radar (Gary Burghoff).
Problem: The size of
the note is too small to be a $10 MPC Note. It is a $1 note.
Third:
Look closely at the note: The note has a large vignette in an oval, offset
to one side on the front of the note.
Problem: Neither Series 472 or
481, which was used in Korea at the time of the Korean Conflict, did not have a
large vignette on the front of the note. As far as I can see, it more closely
resembles Series 521, 591 or 611 $1 notes
Fourth: Later in the
episode, after Hawkeye mentions to Radar about he lost $3000 in fees from his
private practice by being drafted, Radar "requisitions" the $3000 by "filling
out the proper forms." Afterwards, a Finance Officer comes to reclaim the $3000.
Detail: He is wearing the correct Finance Corps insignia on his
uniform lapel.
But as I said in the last letter concerning episodes of
M*A*S*H and their details, IT'S ONLY TV! I guess when you are a TV producer, you
can take certain liberties concerning authenticity.
Phil
Today's Gram is a doozey! Not only is it 06 JUNE, but it
fell on Thursday - Ski's appointed column day, so as you would expect there is a
great article. Then to top that: It's Gram 641 and you have my article on Series
641 - So you readers out there get - A Double Feature!
I had hoped to
have images of the Series 641 Specimen notes, but they have not been delivered
yet.
After discussing it with our beloved and esteemed publisher, we will
shortly remove the MPC Catalog Corrections section, store it on
PaperMoneyWorld.net and make it available as a link on the Gram, so as to save
space. However, NEW correction will be listed in the Gram, as they are
discovered.
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
===================================================
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
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864-3122
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489-8130 (212) 581-8130
Cookie Jar
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604-9225
cjcpi@comcast.net
Guido Crapanzano
[39]
2-8056228 [39] 2-4459856
Currency Dealer
Newsletter
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515-7369
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852-7015
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493-4758 (602) 494-9103
sales@gradedcurrency.com
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603-9899 (863) 603-9880
mpccoin@hotmail.com
Cygnet Charters
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734-2422
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(301)
604-9225
cjcpi@comcast.net
Doric Coins &
Currency
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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
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583-2748 (765) 583-4584
horwdel@inshightbb.com
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Smithsonian Research
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243-5211
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445-2214 (715) 445-4087
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649-5134
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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
Germany
- WW2 Notegelt 50 Pfennig red & orange Land Baden 1947 CU
$150.00
Germany - WW2 Notegelt 5 note complete set from Stuttgart May
1945 issue CU $250.00
Greece - WW2 1 Drachma Ionian
Islands P-M11 dr. blue scarce issue CU $28.00
Japan
- WW2 domestic issue 10 Yen greens &
black mishandled cu's (I have 3 in consecutive number) so
I'll
call them XF+ $18.00 each
I have more WW2
and world notes on my website: LeosWide World of Bank
Notes
Contact Leo May at LeoMayEnt@aol.com
(639)
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
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.
WANTED - Philippine Guerrila Money (5/26)
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:
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 -