From: "MPCgram" To: Subject: MPCGram 729 Date: Friday, September 13, 2002 8:55 PM ============================================== MPC GRAM ============================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 003 - Number 729 Friday 13 Sep 2002 481 $5 Fourth Printing Authenticated by Larry Smulczenski Dick Freyser attended the Strasburg paper money show. One purpose was to have the MPC Series 481 $5 apparently from the fourth printing authenticated. Fred and I spent a long time examining the piece. We told Dick that we were trying our best to prove that it is not a fourth printing. We concluded that it is a genuine note. It is from position 34 WITH serifs. The serial number does compute when compared to the position number. UV examination proved correct. Our conclusion is that it is indeed from the fourth printing. Documents indicate that it should not exist. What gives? Hopefully we will find the answer at the BEP next week. ============================================== Editorial ============================================== We still have not typed up Ski's column from Thur! I had a chance to get this gram out so took it. In spite of an overall slow day here at Strasburg, the MPC guys were busy! We will have more on that as the show progresses. Fred ============================================== Mail Call ============================================== Dear Editor, BACK IN THE GOOD OLE USA I made it back alive to the good ole USA, and it is the good ole USA! All thanks to the many citizens of this country who handled many of the collectibles we buy/sell, research and/or write about. When I checked in at Tan Son Nhat International Airport Wednesday evening (their time), they took one look at the 4x1x2 foot box holding the MPC Series 692 oil paintings and said I could not check it on my ticket. I already had two large bags to check and two legally-sized carry-ons. So I said I will pay. The grim look on the clerk's face changed to a smile and my American Express card was quickly processed for a US$117.00 charge. U.S. dollars work everywhere! I arrived at Narita International Airport and went through a very slow Japanese immigrations and down to the baggage area. My stuff never showed up so I walked over the the baggage counter. The lady took my receipts and returned with my stuff. I went to a customs and the officer asks me why I was in Japan. I replied with something about having to stay overnight to connect with my flight. He hands me back my ticket and says my flight leaves in about four hours. I looked at the tickets and it was true. Somewhere during our booking process, my wife said I had a layover and I had a hotel reservation in Narita to prove it. My wife did have a layover when she return a couple of weeks ago, but I did not. The moral of this part of the story is ALWAYS read your own tickets and do not believe what anyone(to include your mate) says about them with confirming it yourself. I could not back peddle, so I was soon in the Arrivals area and started a two-hour process of getting back into the Departures area. Narita was not built to Western standards, to say the least. There is nothing clear about where you are supposed to go, so everyone is milling around until they finally spot their airline and check-in counter area. I found the long security check-in line to the ANA First/Business Class International counter and very few of the Japanese in front of me were prepared for it. They had everything wrapped in tape and/or string, and security was opening almost everything. My stuff was wrapped in newspapers with rubber bands and the check was swift when the man saw what I had done for him. The right side of the area was for First Class passengers and there was no one being processed. My left side was for Business Class and there were 25 people in line! I asked one of the First Class "Guides" if she could take some of the many people in front of me to her side and process them at the empty counters. "Oh no sir, they must stand in their line." Typical Japanese logic. They also took my baggage cart away from me after going through security so I had to tug, push and pull my bags through the line and to the counter. The answer to my question about keeping my cart was "Oh no sir, our procedure prohibits carts in the passenger check-in areas." Typical Japanese logic. Once at the counter, I was quickly checked in and directed to immigrations security with 500 people in line, and I am not kidding! There was another security check of our carry-on that was just thoroughly done about 50 feet away at from check-in security. Typical Japanese logic. Then all 500 of us were shoved into a small room with four immigrations officers and it took us over an hour to get through it. All of us were soaked with sweat and feeling really happy about the ivory tower executives who designed Narita's processing. I went up to the ANA Business Class Lounge and enjoyed some juice and a snack before looking for the Internet connection. When I found it, I asked the lady for the local MSN telephone number so I could dial it for my connection. She said they did not have any Internet telephone numbers. I asked if she had a Narita/Tokyo telephone book where she could look up MSN for me. Her response was that no local telephone books were allowed in the lounge for the free local calling privilege. Typical Japanese logic. I left the lounge and was walking in the duty-free area when I spotted a sign with Yahoo on it. I followed the arrow and found a room full of laptops and a small counter with two young Japanese at it. I asked them how much I had to pay for using their computers and the connection, and they said with an American accented English, "Sir, this is a free service by Yahoo." Untypical Japanese logic. I cancelled my hotel reservation with one email, chewed out my wife for telling me I had to stay overnight here with a second email, and answered the other emails in my back home in-box. I was starting to feel closer to home. When I arrived at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia Thursday morning (their time), we made a long walk to Immigrations, but there were many officers and signs showing they were looking for more Immigrations and Customs people to hire. Many of the officers had short grey hair, so if any of you need a job, look into it.Then into the baggage area and my stuff was quickly there. I placed the 4x1x2 box of MPC painting on top of everything and went into a short line of passengers having their customs card being reviewed. When I arrived, the old short grey-haired Customs officer asked me what was in the box. I told him that he was not going to believe it contained five paintings of military payment certificates (MPC). His reply came with a large smile and the response "The last time I used scrip was in Japan." I pulled one of my cards out my pocket and gave it to him and said "Please contact me if you have any of it and/or want to correspond with others about your scrip days." John was in Japan when he used "scrip" and we started talking. The passengers were starting to pile up behind me and mumbling. Another Customs officers came up to him and asked "John, should I open another line?" and John said "yes." We talked for another couple of minutes and he told me "Welcome back" and said forget my duty. Typical American veteran's logic! It is good to be back home in the good ole USA. Please give me a few days to unpack before you start complaining about me not mailing things to you. I am thinking about driving all of the paintings to Port Clinton for distribution by your editor in mid-October, because I will not be in-country for the MPC Fest, but back in Southeast Asia. Or will one of you guys come to me and take them away. Howard A. Daniel III ============================================== CALENDAR OF EVENTS ============================================== 2002 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 Paper Money Convention IBNS Sydney & Melbourne Chapters 2/3 November 2002 Artarmon Motor Inn, Sydney Australia Contact Tony James wk. 61 2 9235 0888 fax. 61 2 9235 0588 email:- info@tonyjamesnoteworld.biz Come on escape the Winter in the north and see the Land Down Under. Very Inexpensive! Australian dollar is only 55c US !!!!! 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 www.traces.org 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. 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! News - Today's headlines http://news.yahoo.com