From: "MPCgram" To: Subject: MPCGram 718 Date: Sunday, September 01, 2002 10:16 PM ============================================== MPC GRAM ============================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 003 - Number 718 - Sunday 2 Sep Greatest Collection to Be Sold Marcus Turner Today (Sunday August 25, 2002) was a very sad day in the world of MPC collecting. I ventured approximately 1 hour west of my home just outside of Indianapolis to the extreme western edge of Indiana along I-70: Terre Haute. The Wabash Valley Coin Club held their annual coin show at the Hulman Center (AKA: The house that Larry Bird Built) in downtown Terre Haute. Marv Mericle is heavily involved with the Wabash Valley Coin Club and is a large part of running this show. If I am not mistaken, Marv is the Bourse Chairman for this show. He must have done an outstanding job since all available tables were sold out. Unfortunately, it looks like I arrived a little late. While there was some decent MPC on the floor, Marv managed to buy up all of the great items including a Series 100 A 10 Yen in Uncirculated condition! I guess that is what I get for trying to sleep in on a Sunday morning. So what a sad day for MPC collectors you ask? This was the last time that the COMPLETE Marv Mericle collection of CHOICE UNCIRCULATED MPC collection would be on public display. This is the same collection that has received numerous exhibiting awards over the past two years. This is the same collection that is featured in the new 4th Edition of the Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates. It is from this collection that the official ANA Military Payment Certificate Souvenir Cards were made. Without question, this is the most perfect, complete collection of Military Payment Certificates ever assembled. In a sense I had made the trip to pay my final respects before the collection is placed on the auction block next February in Chicago. It is always exciting to watch the reactions of non-paper money collectors looking at an exhibit of MPC. It can almost be a throw back to the glory days of US coinage with the allegorical figures, but in the bright colors that never materialized in modern day US paper money. As impressive as the exhibit is to the non-MPC collector, it is also ironic that that most that saw that final exhibit probably have little appreciation for the quality, and level of effort required to assemble such a collection. As much as I do not want to see Marv’s collection broken up, it is definitely a wonderful opportunity for us collectors to not only own a piece of MPC history, but to own a piece that will set a higher standard within our own collections. ============================================== Editorial ============================================== What is the best collection? What is the best collection ever? Similar, but different questions. Marcus’ article is wonderful, but his statement that the Mericle collection is the best MPC collection ever is certainly open to debate. It is exactly like sports and political debates. Who was the greatest quarterback ever? Who was the greatest president ever? Who gets to decide? I love it. I have been asked by Lyn Knight and Joel Shafer to catalog the Mericle collection. I will certainly state in the catalog that it is the greatest collection of regular issues that has yet been sold at auction. That is fairly easy to establish. The greatest collection ever, should allow lots of discussion here in the Gram. I have some more ideas, but I will save them at the moment in the hope that readers will fill our mail boxes with comments! Fred ============================================== Mail Call ============================================== Dear MPCGram Do you have the totals of currency redeemed by the U.S. Department of Defense for each MPC series? I can not find any listing in the Books Military Payment Certificates or World War II Remembered about this subject. The only reference I have found was an article in World Coins magazine issue of December 1970, page 1506. This refers to MPC Series 641, the "Red Dollars" of Vietnam use. "At the time of the 1968 conversion there were 153 million dollars in MPC in circulation. U.S. authorities said at the time that 11 million dollars worth of MPC were not redeemed, indicating that all or most of this amount was in the hands of black marketers unable to turn it in for new money." Does any MPCGramer have a handy listing of issued/redeemed for each Series issue? Richard A. Ziegler Dear Richard, Thanks for writing. If you can consult the national registry of MPC redemption figures, you will find everything you could want. Sorry, there is no such place. These figures are hard to come by. Interestingly, the only specific number that I have recorded in my master book is also for Series 641 and it is substantially different from the numbers that you quote. Colonel Jeff Wiley was the chief finance officer in Korea when Series 651 was retired. He has a copy of the final report on redemption and destruction. He has indicated that he will provide it to us. That report should be very interesting, but he has not produced it yet. Very possibly he will hand deliver it at the January FUN show which is where I met him in the first place. Alternatively, you might wait for a letter to the Gram from David Klinger who will probably find all of the redemption figures by series, by denomination, by country! Editor ============================================== 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, 9 - 12Jan 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. Here are a few notes from the Phil Goldstein collection Series 481 3rd Printing 5 Cents EF $9.00 10 Cents AU lite stain $15.00 25 Cents EF lite stain $25.00 50 Cents Fine $40.00 $1.00 VF $35.00 $10.00 F-VF $60.00 Series 481 4th Printing 5 Cents EF $12.00 10 Cents VF $30.00 Prices include domestic insured delivery confirm coinman@rochester.rr.com The following collection of 75 MPC is available from Truong Van Dung, a dealer whose store is located at 15 Le Loi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Series Denom Serial PP Grade Remarks MPC Collection 461 10C A02971206A 36 VF 472 5C C07826443C 55 VG 481 5C D02151852D 17 F 521 10C E14897809E 15 F 521 $1 E10860890E 28 VG 541 5C F00075172F 10 F 611 10C H06339579H 37 G 611 $1 H02686663H 56 VF 641 5C J20182791J 3 EF+ 641 10C J09690285J 36 EF+ 641 25C J10639456J 70 EF+ 641 50C J05691357J 40 VF+ 641 $1 J10173584J 12 EF+ 641 $5 J00166102J 21 EF+ 641 $10 J10805322J 1 EF+ 661 5C B14283942B 22 AU 661 10C B10967368B 27 VF+ 661 25C B10434457B 45 VF 661 50C B02645828B 79 VF+ 661 $1 B32690101B 27 VF 661 $5 B02777175B 48 EF 661 $10 B01992330B 50 F+ 681 5C C09872191C 59 EF 681 10C C11360616C 77 EF+ 681 25C C06175558C 16 EF 681 50C C00589581C 74 EF 681 $1 C16349048C 14 VF+ 681 $5 C01753162C 20 VF+ 681 $10 C02324499C 41 EF+ 681 $20 C05097956C 38 VF+ 692 5C E09337636E 76 VF 692 10C E02159762E 18 VF+ 692 25C E05958165E 73 VF+ 692 50C E02041997E 4 VF 692 $1 E17844993E 61 VF 692 $5 E02356662E 45 EF 692 $10 E02029908E 2 EF 692 $20 E06107556E 14 EF But with one pair of staple holes. Unusual MPC 641 50C J00088800J 12 G Unusual serial number. 641 50C J00222202J 28 G Unusual serial number. 641 50C J90988888J 40 F Unusual serial number. 641 $1 J00906909J 44 VG Unusual serial number. 641 $1 J04569440J 12 VF “Nov 20 1965” overstamp. 641 $10 J19453903J 32 VF “Not Issued” overstamp. 661 25C B08166409B 13 F Error note with “Cents” missing on face. 661 $10 B02904557B 14 VF Counterfeit. 692 10C E00960251E 37 F “Not Negotiable” overstamp. 692 $1 E13274139E 50 VF “Void” overstamp. 692 $1 E13552027E 15 VF “Void” overstamp. 692 $1 E14653108E 12 F “Void” overstamp. 692 $1 E15328648E 27 VF+ “Void” overstamp. 692 $1 E16988934E 24 VF+ “Not Negotiable” overstamp. 692 $5 E01697535E 13 VF “Void” overstamp. 692 $5 E01718182E 15 VF “Void” overstamp. 692 $5 E02654175E 32 VF “Not Negotiable” overstamp. 692 $20 E06013883E 2 VF+ “Not Negotiable” overstamp. 692 $20 E06085420E 11 VF “Void” overstamp. 692 $20 E06372657E 47 VF “Void” overstamp. Print Position One MPC 641 5C J02021925J 1 F 641 10C J02690497J 1 F+ 641 50C J00000374J 1 VF 641 $1 J05607099J 1 F+ 641 $5 J00407147J 1 F+ 641 $10 J17207161J 1 EF 661 $1 B29124186B 1 VF 661 $5 B01204319B 1 VF+ 681 10C C13446326C 1 F 681 25C C08069860C 1 VG 681 $1 C15680348C 1 VF 681 $5 C03602335C 1 F+ 692 5C E07398950E 1 AG Lower left corner margin gone. 692 $1 E21282862E 1 F 692 $5 E01203529E 1 VF+ “Void” overstamp. 692 $5 E04007432E 1 VF But with pair of staple holes. 692 $20 E02801438E 1 F+ All of the pieces were found in Viet Nam, and I quickly looked at and graded them. Everyone who knows my grading says it is always too low, so please take that into consideration. As I have time, I will look at it again to look for any imperfections. His asking price for all of the above MPC is $2000. to the first offer, but there is a little negotiating room if there is no offer at his asking price. Contact Howard (Howard@SEAsianTreasury.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