From: "MPCgram" To: ; Subject: MPCGram 693 Date: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 11:22 AM ============================================== MPC GRAM ============================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 003 - Number 693-Tueday 6 Aug 2002 Great WWII Discovery by Joe Boling IBNS member Mark Tomasko, who specializes in engravers and their work, has obtained some proofs of Japanese puppet bank notes that were apparently prepared by the American Bank Note Company during the war. His research shows that most records of this work were either destroyed or never created, and that the employees were told to keep the information close-hold indefinitely. Even proofs of the plates were not to be retained in the normal manner; it is not known exactly how or why the proofs that have come into his possession were created. He asked me to bring certain notes to the ANA convention in NY for comparison to his proofs. Through miscommunication, I took only part of what he needed, but it was enough. The first note we checked (the one I had in quantity) is the very common Central Reserve Bank of China red 5 yuan, P-J10. I looked at his proof and at one of my high-grade notes and quickly found a couple of minor plate differences. I then checked the rest of my notes for one that would match his proof, and glory be--I found one! This is the second variety of the note--serials on face only, with black signatures. He then checked for the presence of a secret mark that he had found in the proof, and it is also present on my note. The most interesting aspect of this is that my note came in a large lot of counterfeits from the Ward Smith collection, when it was auctioned by The Money Company. Most of the lot was Nationalist currency from a variety of banks, but this one CRB note was in the group. At that time I could see only slightly more bold signatures on the back; I did not scrutinize the well-circulated piece for plate differences, because I did not expect a wartime counterfeit to be intaglio (this was long before we found the intaglio Malaya $10 OSS counterfeits.) I had forgotten about this CRB note buried in my collection, and did not go back to it when we learned that the US really was duplicating intaglio plates for counterfeits. I obviously should have. What did Ward Smith know and when did he know it? This is fascinating! We showed the proof and my note at the IBNS meeting Saturday morning at the ANA convention. See--you should have come to the convention. Mark has only face proofs. I have found a characteristic of the back plate that is easier to describe than the mark on the face (which is a letter V hidden away in a curlicue). On the counterfeit back, the periods after the bank officer titles are in line with the titles; on the original pieces, the signatures are below the line of the titles. This is especially obvious at the left signature, "vice governor." Let's hear from you who have quantities of these common notes; anybody find another one with elevated periods? Mark also has a proof of the 10 yuan P-J12, presumably for P-J12c, since the 5 yuan we found has black signatures. I found a "v" buried on it also, but Mark (who has made a study of ABN secret marks) says that this placement is not like their usual practice, so it may not be what it appears to be. In any event, I had no examples of P-J12 with me in NY. Having returned home, I find that there are none in my collection with the mark I found. Most of the pieces I have of this portrait variety are of P-J12d. We would not expect to find counterfeits of these, unless the counterfeiters were also adding the control overprints. I will be searching for an example of this plate variety. In the "merchandise" files that Howard Daniel obtained for Fred and me to use for WWII Remembered, there is a 1944 memo stating that CRB 10 yuan plates had been delivered to the OSS and the numbering machines would follow shortly. There is no mention of 5 yuan notes, nor of Federal Reserve Bank of China notes. However, the third proof that Mark has is of P-J73, the first undated FRB 5 yuan note. I had only a single piece to take to NY, and it is poorly printed, so it made comparison with the proof difficult. However, Mark and I found a couple of minor differences in the face plate; I will also start searching for those. The purchasing power of the CRB 5 and 10 yuan notes in 1944 was almost nil. Notice in WWIIR (p724) that we said the counterfeits of those notes had to be used in rural areas. I do not recall where that information came from; it is not in the "merchandise" files, but probably in some other secondary reference that Fred or I found. I see that we said there were to be a million 10 yuan notes "for each agency," but failed to name them. Both OSS and SOE were to get a million pieces. In addition, a third agency was to get some quantity--both the agency name and the amount are obliterated in the copies of the memo that we received from the CIA. The FRB yuan held up much better, but there would have been less call for it, as we had no troops near the areas of its use. It also has not been mentioned in any source that Fred or I have seen; we had no clue that FRB notes might be being officially counterfeited. But that note also has an elaborate watermark. I would not be surprised if counterfeit P-J73s are never discovered because they were not produced. None of the documents we obtained mentions who prepared the plates or paper for, nor who did the printing of, any of the US WWII official counterfeits. We can now say that the plates (at least some of them) came from ABNCo. More documentation of the ABNCo-OSS connection may exist in other files, but all the WWII material is now in the National Archives in Suitland, Maryland--much harder to access than when it was still at the CIA, which could be plumbed with a FOIA request. In the archives, you have to do your own searching, and you have to know what cartons to ask for. There is no telling when someone will have the time and serendipity to find out more on this subject. Our thanks to Mark Tomasko for pursuing this; I look forward to the article he is going to write about it. Goldstein Stars MPC maven Phil Goldsetin had 15 seconds of fame this morning when he was featured on CNN. Phil was filmed at the ANA convention where he was asked about the best way to carry your personal cash. It seems that there was wide disagreement on the matter. Phil was taped at the table of Leo May who did not make it into the bit. Fred Schwan was standing by but did not get a speaking role. ============================================== Editorial ============================================== Man does that sound funny. Today's Gram number that is. Say six ninety three a few times. MPC collectors say 692 and 691 over and over again, but never 693. It just sounds strange. I am reporting from Woodstock, NY. Judy and Phil Goldstein conspired to get me into an upscale inn here in Woodstock. Not my style at all, but it IS style! All of this in the hope of having a meeting with Phil this evening to play some more with notes! Stay tuned. Fred ============================================== Mail Call ============================================== Editor, While the 4th Edition of the Comprehensive Catalog of Military Currency had a long and tortuous gestation period, the birth and acceptance has been Spectacular!! The book reaffirms the preeminence of Fred Schwan in the MPC arena. He is head and shoulders above the rest of us mere mortals. GREAT JOB, and WELL deserved award!!!! How is the new AMC catalog doing? David E. Seelye PS. Fred send another case of 4th editions!!! Dear David, Those are the types of comments that my father would have appreciated and my mother would have believed, but you talk my language in the PS [books were mailed from Woodstock!]. Actually, I have not been working on the AMC book for a few weeks because I was working on another military title that I am hesitant to mention less I get more remnders! Fred Dear Gram, In responce to "Gentlemen, I may have missed it if you covered it in one of the grams. What format do you use for pictures of money and other info in websites for the MPC gram? Can you handle .bmp stuff?” T the answer is YES bmp is a usable format Doug ================================================== 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. Nice Korean MPC coupon; 4th series .25 denomination. 600.00. email me at kochfam@gte.net Tom Koch 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) Wanted: War and other bonds issued by the US government, will purchase or trade. =================================================== 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. Your suggestions, criticisms, complaints, editorial contributions, letters, and even praise are very welcome. The entire contents including linked illustrations are copyright protected by the publishers. In the case of contributors, the copyright is protected on behalf of the creators. Please send all correspondence regarding the gram to MPCgram@yahoo.com. Thank you very much for your participation. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com