From: "MPCgram" To: Subject: MPCGram 710 Date: Sunday, August 25, 2002 9:18 AM ============================================== MPC GRAM ============================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 003 - Number 710- Sunday 26 Aug 2002 Vietnam Trip Report Ngyugen Trung Back in 2001 my friend Phil asked me to look for a currency control card during my trip to the homeland Vietnam. Phil was specifically interested in a card issued by the United States Coast Guard. Well, no card was ever found. Phil - It took me another trip in 2002 to figure out why those items are beyond rare. During the visit to the former Independence Palace of South Vietnam, now the Unification Hall of Vietnam, I wandered down the basement where all the war actions were directed. In one hidden corner of the war room was a sign behind a glass door. The sign reads: Classified: secret Number of Allied Forces in South Vietnam June 29, 1968 United States 541,933 Army 363,601 Navy 33,664 Marines 83,990 Coast Guard 401 Australia 7,379 Taiwan 31 S. Korea 50,355 New Zealand 523 Philippines 1,825 Spain 12 Thailand 2,423 Total 604,481 The sign did not catch much attention. In fact I was the only one looking at it, probably because it was in Vietnamese and the Western tourists were not able to comprehend the writing. I took a picture of it while thinking of my friend Phil back in the United States. With the number of Coast Guards of 443, my change to locate a currency control card is actually less than none, provided the cards were actually issued. Sorry to disappoint you there, Phil. The question is: Did the Taiwanese numbered at only 31 have any kind of coupons, MPC, etc? How about the Spanish who were totaled 12? Does any one have information on this issue? I saw the South Vietnam Flag that was flying on April 30, 1975 (I was in the Philippines en route to Guam USA that morning). The flag was folded and displayed in a glass case. I sure wanted so badly to touch the flag that millions of us were fighting and dying for... it was sad. It should be noted here that the last President of South Vietnam is still addressed as "the President" in every speech at the former Independence Hall. For example his office is known as "the office where the President worked." It sure sounds like Thieu is still in power and South Vietnam is still an independent country. Just a touch of my own emotion, I suppose. One item I acquired during the 2002 trip was a wartime era draft deferment card issued to a South Vietnam citizen. The card was stamped for signature and authority "Nguyen Van Thieu." At the time President Thieu was not yet the president. He was the general in charge of the arm forces or something close. The card was not signed by Thieu himself but by his assistance "for." it would be nice to have Thieu's original signature. Well, next time I hope. Does any one want the card more than I do? I have no plan to sell it, but if one of the gramsters wants it I will consider parting. ============================================== Editorial ============================================== Reports are starting to come in from the MPCBBQI. Sounds like it was a mess (which is good for a barbeque!). Expect a detailed rerport tomorrow. As for my own trip, the journey to the Strongsville show was very successful. I had a very nice time visiting with Leo May, Daryl Speilbring, Dick Houde and some others. I just missed Keith Bauman who was reported to have something for me so I am disappointed about that. The highlight of the event was picking up a few new MPC replacement serial numbers. Then I decided that I should buy some of the replacements. In the case of the two best ones that I bought, there is a hidden point to the story, I am just not sure what it is. I first saw these two notes about a year ago. They did not seem that interesting to me, but when I saw them yesterday, I figured that they should go home to Festville which they did. Fred ============================================== Mail Call ============================================== Dear Gram, If you want to see how and where engravers hide identifying letters or names, when they get away with it, see: IBNS Journal Vol 26, No. 2, 1987, p. 44. In addition, see the large engravings issued on souvenir cards, Liberty, Justice, etc. Those engraved by G.F.C. Smillie have his name in small letters. These engravings were used as panels for government bonds. Gene Dear Editor: An interesting web site for military acronyms is http://www.fas.org/news/reference/lexicon/acronym.htm Warner Dear Esteemed Editor, I have been here two weeks and just realized that I have not seen a single military token or chit in any condition! This is a bad sign for the supply to the new collectors! But I have found a few other things. One is a set of US Navy mess silverware. Is anyone interested in one or more pieces? And I have found a few RVN and French military items. If anyone is interested in them, I will go into more details about them. The MPC are few and far between and the grades are fine and below. But I will keep looking for them and give you an inventory at a later date. The oil painting of the Series 692 $10 was bought by Fred Schwan, but the painter is working on other notes in that series. Is anyone else interested in one of them? That is my SITREP (Situation Report) for today from ole Saigon. Howard A. Daniel III (Howard@SEAsianTreasury.com) Howard A. Daniel III =============================================== CALENDAR OF EVENTS =============================================== 2002 Hong Kong Coin Auction, August 29, 2002 & Hong Kong International Coin Convention, August 30-31, 2002, Holiday Inn Golden Mile, 50 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Auction sponsored by Baldwin's Auctions Ltd.; Ma Tak Wo Numismatic Co. Ltd.; Ronald J. Gillio Auctions; and Monetarium (S) Pte. Ltd. Bourse information from Ronald J. Gillio, 1003 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Telephone 805-962-3197 & Fax 805-962-6659 or Margaret Ang/Kathy Chu in Hong Kong at 852-2311-1699 or email at tcoinshk@netvigator.com. London Paper Money Fair, September 1, 2002, The Bonnington Hotel, 92 Southhampton Row, London WC1, England, Pam West, P.O. Box 257, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9WW, Telephone/Fax 44-208-641-3224 or email PamWestBritNotes@Compuserve.com. Czech International Symposium on Paper Money, September 12, 2002 & 5th Collectors' Fair of Philately, Numismatics and Telephone Cards, September 13, 2002, IBNS Czech Chapter, Evzen Sknouril (President), Vaclacke nam 17, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic, Telephone 420-2-2400-9273 or Fax 420-2-2400-9278 or email ibnscz@volny.cz. Strasburg Currency & Stock & Bond Show, September 12-15, 2002, Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln Highway East (US-30), Lancaster, PA 17602, Kevin Foley, P.O. Box 573, Milwaukee, WI 53201, Telephone 414-421-3484 or Fax 414-423-0343. Central States Fall Show (& Greater Cincinnati Numismatic Exposition), September 20-22, 2002, Sharonville Convention Center, I-75, Exit 15, North Cincinnati, OH, Paul Padget, Telephone 513-821-2143. 5-6 October IBNS Congress at the Trade Union Congress hall, two blocks from the British Museum. On 4 October there will be an IBSS (Int'l Bond and Share Society) meeting at the Victory Services Club (Marble Arch), which will include lot viewing for their October mail bid sale (the sale will include Japanese WWII bonds, and undoubtedly other items of interest to gramsters). There are usually auctions by Spink's and by Phillips Son and Neale that week St. Louis paper money show 21-24 November POW Conference 5- 8 October Muscatine Holiday Inn, Muscatine, IA has blocked out rooms for Sunday and Monday nights, and offers a special rate for those and Saturday night at $75 per room 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 FUN Florida United Numismatists, Orlando, Jan 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. Selections from the Phil Goldstein Collection Series 611 sleeper series 5 Cents GEM UNC $39.00 10 Cents GEM UNC $47.50 25 Cents GEM UNC $235.00 50 Cents GEM UNC $250.00 $1.00 EF $20.00 Series 661 5 Cents A. UNC $5.00 10 Cents GEM UNC $9.50 25 Cents GEM UNC $25.00 50 Cents GEM UNC $22.50 $1.00 GEM UNC $19.00 $5.00 GEM UNC $26.00 $20.00 ink 74 VF $35.00 price includes domestic insured delivery confirm coinman@rochester.rr.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) 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! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com