From: "MPCgram" To: ; Subject: MPCGram 688 Date: Thursday, August 01, 2002 9:37 PM ============================================== MPC GRAM ============================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 003 - Number 688-Thursdski 1 Aug 2002 More on Nuclear Numismatics by Larry "Ski" Smulczenski Since the question arose about the first atomic bomb tests at Trinity site in New Mexico, I think I will pursue this subject a little bit further. Those tests in New Mexico and the release of the two bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ushered the United States and the rest of the world into the Atomic and Nuclear era. Fifty-seven years ago, next week, on the 6th and 9th of August, 1945, the U.S. unleashed the power of the atom on the two Japanese cities to bring an end to the Second World War. A little less than a year later, during the month of July,1946, the United States continued it's quest to obtain further information about the awesome power it had developed and thrust upon the world. This time the tests were conducted at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The program was named Operation Crossroads and was an atmospheric nuclear weapon test series conducted in the summer of 1946. The series consisted of two detonations, each with a yield of approximately 21 kilotons. The first test known as ABLE was detonated at an altitude of 520 feet on 1 July 1946, the second known as BAKER was detonated 90 feet underwater on 25 July. The series was to study the effects of nuclear weapons on ships, equipment, and material. A fleet of more than 90 vessels was assembled in Bikini Lagoon as a target. This target fleet consisted of older U.S. capital ships, three captured German and Japanese ships, surplus U.S. cruisers, destroyers and submarines, and a large number of auxiliary and amphibious vessels. Military equipment was arrayed on some of the ships as well as amphibious craft that were berthed on Bikini Island. Technical experiments were also conducted to study nuclear weapon explosion phenomena. Some experiments included the use of live animals. Some of the more famous ships that were part of the target fleet were the battleships USS Arkansas, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania, carriers Independence and Saratoga and cruisers Pensacola and Salt Lake City. Also included was the German cruiser Prinz Eugen, the Japanese cruiser Sakawa and the Japanese battleship Nagato. Notice that two of the battleships, Nevada and Pennsylvania which had survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, now faced this holocaust. Also of interest to us as collectors is the fact that at least two of the ships listed above issued chits. If you click on www.papermoneyworld.net/larry/73102aa.jpg ,you can view chits from the battleship New York and the carrier Saratoga. If you know of items from any of the other ships, we would like to hear from you. The support fleet of more than 150 ships provided quarters, experimental stations, and workshops for most of the 42.000 men of Joint Task Force-One (JTF 1), the organization that conducted the tests. Additional personnel were located on nearby atolls such as Eniwetok and Kwajalein. The islands of the Bikini Atoll were used primarily as recreation and instrumentation sites. Two well visited "watering-holes" are known to have operated on the atoll. They were the Crossed Spikes Club and the Coral Reef Tavern. The Coral Reef is known to have issued chits. You can see an example of the chits by clicking on www.papermoneyworld.net/larry/73102bb.jpg. Does anyone know of anything from the Crossed Spikes Club? In the ABLE test, the weapon was dropped from a B-29 and burst over the target fleet at an altitude of 518 feet. Everything went smoothly except that the weapon exploded somewhere between 1500 and 2000 feet from it's intended aim point exactly over the attack transport USS Gillian. It was flattened by the force of the blast and sunk within one minute. Another attack transport, the Carlisle was thrown 150 yards and sunk shortly thereafter. The Japanese cruiser Sakawa sustained severe superstructure and hull damage and sunk the next day. Two destroyers, the Anderson and the Lamson also sank that afternoon. The radioactivity created by the burst had only a transient effect, and within a day nearly all the surviving target ships had been safely reboarded. Plans for the BAKER test proceeded onschedule and the blast occurred 90 feet below the fleet on the 25th of July. Eight ships were sunk by the blast including the battleships USS Arkansas and the Japanese Nagato; the aircraft carrier Saratoga, two submarines and three support vessels. The detonation caused most of the target fleet to be bathed in radioactive water spray and radioactive debris from the lagoon bottom. With the exception of 12 target vessels anchored in the array and the landing craft beached on Bikini Island, the target fleet remained too radiologically contaminated for several weeks for more than brief on-board activities. Even the supporting ships became contaminated from the low-level radioactivity in marine growth on the ships hulls and seawater piping systems. Work was stopped at Bikini and the target vessels towed to Kwajalein where they could be worked on in uncontaminated waters. Some of the target ships were eventually towed back to the U.S. or Hawaii for further inspection and disposition. Two different souvenir short snorters were printed in conjunction with Operation Crossroads. You can see these by clicking on www.papermoneyworld.net/larry/shortsnorter.htm.. You will see some familiar designations on both of these notes. Joint Task Force One or JTF-One, Bikini Atoll, Crossroads, appear prominently on the notes. The one with the central vignette of the bomb blast depicts the 58th Wing and the 509th Composite Group. The 509th Composite Group was the organization tasked with dropping the bomb on the ships moored in Bikini Atoll. The B-29 "Dave's Dream" was the actual aircraft making the release. The 58th Wing Photo Unit supported all organizations during the tests. The serial number of the note reads K58509320E. We have identified the 58 and the 509 above, but have found no mention of an organization identified by the 320. I'm sure there was one, but as of now I can't place it. On the back of the note, there is mention of a Task Group One.Five. Task Group 1.5 was the operations order designation of the Army Air Group, comprised of all Army Air Force Units assigned to the Crossroads mission. All major units had a similar designation--The Target Vessel Group was Task Group 1.2, the Destroyer Surface Patrol Group was Task Group 1.7, the Army Ground Group was Task Group 1.4 etc. Finally, to fill you in on everything that went on, four days after the BAKER detonation, the bikini swimsuit debuted at a French fashion show. Now isn't that a real blast. ============================================== Editorial ============================================== Thursday is a very busy day at the ANA convention culminating in the NLG Bash (Numismatic Literary Guild). Joe Boling and I will be there late on Thursday. I doubt if I will get any additional reports on the day in here until Friday, but, heck, if I think that Thursday is busy, well, Friday and Saturday are worse, er, better. ============================================== Mail Call ============================================== Dear Fred, I just received the copies of your books yesterday. Unfortunately, the softbound cover was totally messed up and it looked as if someone had chewed on it but at least no pages were torn off. The handcovers faired a little better. I was told that the contents were most probably checked once or twice if not more times and jiggled around before being "re-sealed" but they say that most of the mail sent in this manner becomes this way since 9/11. I'm sorry to say but I have noticed other mail sent from the U.S. tends to be pretty messed up ever since the various sad "incidents" of last year. I have found "auction catalogues" looking as if a dog had it as a toy when it arrived over here all in the name of "Security" with "tape" hold it together. I'm all in favor of them being thorough but one wonders if it's not just an excuse to be rough handling with regular mail. Also for some strange reason, the "Airmailed" book also came on the same delivery. This faired the best in that the corners are not totally bent like the all others. Anyway, I have had a chance to look through it and I must say that it is very impressive. I personally thought that the old third edition was very good. But I recall that you mentioned that many people complained about the "Computer scans" back then. It's probably fair to say that "No one will be complaining with this edition!" I have not had the time to go through it thoroughly yet but I hope to this weekend. Many thanks for the books. Best regards, collector for Japan Dear Collector, Thank you for the kind words and especially for the report on the mails. Editor ================================================== CALENDAR OF EVENTS ================================================ 2002 ANA Annual Convention, New York City, July 30 (PNG Day), July 31- August 4. (MESSAGE CENTER? (Active Monday, July 28, through Sunday, August 4) Message center phone 719/499-3591) The IBNS General Meeting is at 11AM on Saturday morning and it is followed by the NI General Meeting at 12 Noon in the same room. Howard Daniel will be moderating both meetings and will be running a "show and tell" with the attendees. Bring your stuff to NYC and show it off! Dallas Aug 21-24 National paper money and historical artifacts show at the Sheraton Grand hotel at DFW Airport. An auction will be held Friday and Saturday nights. POW Conference ?5 ?8 October Iowa, Confirmed participants: Feller, Smulczenski, Schwan 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, Chicago, IL 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$$, Fred Schwan, David Seelye, Nick Shrier, Larry Smulczenski, Warner Talso, Marcus Turner, Tom Warburton, Mark Watson, Bill Yanchick, Tom Koch, Nancy and John Wilson $$ = Paid Running total: 22 ANA:21-23 March 2003, March, Charlotte, NC ================================================== Subscription information: You can enter an email address to receive the gram by using the link below. Use this to change your address (add the new one), add a friend or enemy. http://www.papermoneyworld.net/WebMailList/Default.asp =================================================== 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 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 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. This is a modest but important collection of MPC replacements. Heck, anytime that a collection has more than twenty different, it is significant. This collection is not significant so much for how many different, but for what the pieces are. This collection includes some VERY important replacements, starting with the first one. Terms are available, please confirm availability via email fred@papermoneyworld.net. Of course the email confirmation gets the note. Series 471 50c, (SN B00488021/pos 62, plate note in MPC 4) very rare, four reported. This is the most difficult series. A great note. Listed as VG in the census, but it has claims to better. Indeed, except for some soiling on the back it clearly would be fine. It is important to look at the others in the census. They are VG, F, and F+ respectively. Furthermore, all three of those pieces are in major collections that are unlikely to come on the market for decades. This is an important chance: sold Series 521 5 cent, second printing (12 reported), great fine (SN E01088098/pos 53) $275.00 Series 521 25 cents (E00264390/34 first printing, 7 reported), VG with honest wear, all quarters are scarce to rare, $300. Series 591 5 cents (G00209786/27) F-VF $295.00. Series 591 $1 (G00256925/33) F $1750.00 Series 611 5 cents (H00089203/12) VG (condition rarity!) $75 Series 611 25 cents (H00058207//8) , only 11 of the type, rare F, attractive, $850 Series 611 $1 (H00017307/3) F-VF $150 Series 611 $10 this is a rare and important note. Furthermore, it has a good pedigree. It was in the famed DeRosa collection then in another private collection until now. In the census it is listed as fine. That is probably a reasonable description. Technically it is somewhat lower, but it looks better! It has three heavy vertical folds. The two flank folds have splits at the bottom. There is tape residue on the right side of the face (this is probably removable), but the portrait is unaffected and the note does not look bad. SN H00076907, are you ready for this? It is position number 10 thus matching the denomination! All in all a desirable note at only sold Series 641 5 cents (first printing J00333038/42) VF, interesting SN $150 Series 641 50 cents (first printing J00534868/67) F-VF looks much better than fine $300 Series 641 $1 (first printing J00220517/28) VG with two staple holes but looks good $250 Series 661 $1 F $95.00 Series 681 5 cents VG-F $100 Series 681 $20 first printing wonderful VF $800 Series 692 5 cents EF+ $150 Series 692 10 cents AU $200 Former Kesselman Series 692 25 cents VF $285 Series 692 $10 EF, 2 pin holes $3300 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) =================================================== 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 ===== MPC Gram is published by BNR Press and papermoneyworld.com as a free service to the community of military money collectors. 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