From: "MPCgram" To: Subject: MPCGram 771 Date: Thursday, November 07, 2002 12:03 PM ============================================== MPC GRAM ============================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 003 - Number 771 Thurski November 7, 2002 POW Tokens By Larry “Ski” Smulczenski "I acquired a set of three small brass tokens from a very reputable dealer sometime ago. The tokens are denominated five, ten and twenty-five. The five (cents?) unit is approximately 1.5 cm thick and just under 16 cm in diameter. The 10 unit, same thickness and approximately 22 cm diameter and the 25, same thickness and approximately 26 cm in diameter. Each token has the one of the three numbers stamped on one side and "PoW" (Upper case P, lower case o, Upper case W.) on the other side. I was told they were Canadian POW tokens used in a German POW camp. Lethbridge is marked on the envelope (they came in). ...please advise additional history, value and usage." I received this email from a Gramster, a couple of weeks ago. It sounded like a great article to share with the rest of the Thurski readers. I recognized the tokens to which the reader was referring, having seen at least one set of them, but I had to admit that my collection lacked even one example. The tokens are listed in Campbell's book on POW camp money, but not pictured. Campbell lists Lethbridge as being primarily a civilian internment camp which I disagree with. My data shows that the prisoners were comprised mainly of Rommel's Afrika Korps. In January of 1942, the British asked the Canadians to assist them interning German POW's away from the combat zone. Canada had a number of camps open in the east. However, it was decided to build two supercamps out west in Alberta and to enlarge two others. Work began immediately on a camp at Lethbridge which would house over 10,000 prisoners. Actually, the camp held as many as 12,500 prisoners at its peak. Prisoners started arriving in May of 1942 before Lethbridge was ready to accept inmates. They were temporally incarcerated at a site in Ozada, Alberta. Ozada was a community on the Canadian Pacific Rail line located in the mountains west of Calgary on the Stoney Indian Reservation at Morley Flats. Coal from the Kananaskis Mines was trucked over land some 35 kilometers to this small town since it was the closest rail junction to the mines. It does not exist today and is merely the intersection of highways 40 and 1A. As winter approached, the prisoners were moved to Lethbridge even though it wasn't completed in November of 1942. Lethbridge continued in operation until June of 1946. These tokens had to be used to purchase items available in the POW Canteen at the camp, similar to the way POW chits were used. The tokens probably preceded the cardboard chits and their use discontinued because of manufacturing cost and quantities needed for the operation. Value? Your guess is as good as mine. Campbell does not list a price. All Canadian POW items are scarce at best. The problem is that the number of collectors interested in these items is small. Therefore, because of lack of competition for the item, the price stays relatively low. I would still place the value above three figures each if you can find any. A recent article in the Gram, reminded us that the Fest is right around the corner. That naturally reminded me to make my plea for items that you plan to submit for the auction at the Fest. I said last year that I would not accept any last minute submissions as I didn't want to miss events that were going on. Yet Phil Goldstein and I spent a full day completing the item listing. As a matter of fact, I had folks handing me items ten minutes before the first lot was offered for bids. So I'm going to try again. Please get your submissions in early as I will not accept lots at the Fest. We are going to set a deadline of 1 February and stick by it. If you don't want to send the item, I will accept an email with a scan and you can bring the item to the Fest. But please, please, please let me know. ============================================== Editorial ============================================== Thanks for writing in with your favorite note. There are a few nominations still in the inbox and space for some more. These have been good. We would like to read yours. Having said that, I am still pondering my own choice (choices?). Even though I started this thing, I am not sure of the intent. First, I do not know if I was/am talking/thinking about items that I have, or items that I would like to have. Want list items are always held in high regard. A few fantasy notes come to mind. I love the design of the Series 701 $10 note. Of course, those are now in collections. Not too many years ago, it was a fantasy to see one. Now I think about a 701 $10 replacement. Now that would be a cool find. But, if we are going down that road, we might as well think big. How about a serial number one replacement 50 cent from Series 701! Now that would be exciting! I guess that it goes without saying that all of the MPC replacements that I do not have are fantasy notes for me. Heck, I get excited just to receive reports of serial numbers that I do not have. I love all of my children. That is why I adopted them, and MANY of them have special stories. I have told many of those stories and will tell more. Here is a short story along that line. I really (REALLY) like the WWII notes issued in Switzerland for British flyers held there. For many years that was the top item on my personal want list. I searched, but could not find one. Ultimately, I was able to obtain one via an auction in England. By the time that I located it and it appeared in the auction, you can be sure that I was not about to be denied. Frankly, I did not think that it went for all that high of a price either! But does that make it my favorite note? Probably not. Still thinking about my favorite. Fred ============================================== Mail Call ============================================== Dear Gram, Gram 770 was a great one! Keep it up! Wilder Quinn Dear Gram, I think that "voting" for the "favorite note" should have a "nomination" period first. After a certain period, your (most honored editor) decision team could list the three notes that received the most nominations. Then....a listing should be posted in the MPC Gram whereas each "Gramster" could vote the ranking of the three candidates(of course, the "decison team" could decide the number of contestants in the "final vote...it could be top 5, 10,etc.). I myself was unable to "choose" my number #1 choice, BUT my choice for candidates would be: Series 521 ($5.00 note) Series 661 ($10.00 note) Series 692 ($10.00 note) Good luck to the "decision team" on deciding on which method to utilize in picking the No. #1 favorite!!!! PK6 Dear Esteemed (?) Editor, My favorite note is the MPC-like piece in my DRVN C&C book cataloged as D-M4. It is a 10 Xu (Cents) piece used on the Ho Chi Minh Trail by the NVA's 559th Transportation Group. Can you imagine it being spent for stationary or cigarettes in the small trail stations built with logs into the ground and hillsides strafed and bombed daily from helicopters to B-52s? U.S. special operations personnel were often tasked to bring back a prisoner from the trail for interrogation but they were often killed (so some you will find do have real blood on them) in the kidnapping attempt and everything on them brought back for the intelligence folks to look at. That is when I was shown my first one and I explained that it was some type of financial instrument. It was very difficult for everyone to believe they were financial instruments under the conditions and very remote places they were used. But the prisoners verified their use and a second series without lettering replaced the first when the NVA spies within the RVN intelligence activities learned we had captured some of them. The second series was supposed to eliminate the possibility of placing the NVA in Laos or Cambodia, which was their propaganda line at the time, but they used their regular fonts and paper, so it was not difficult to attach them to the first series. Howard A. Daniel III ============================================== CALENDAR OF EVENTS ============================================== 2002 Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention, November 7-10 2002. Baltimore Convention Center. Hours are Fri-Sat 10AM- 7 PM. Sunday 10AM-4PM. Len Harsel has a table"; "Howard Daniel has a joint NI/IBNS meeting at 3PM on Nov 9. Gramsters are invited to bring something for show & tell and to network with other Gramsters. Included will be a Bowers and Merena Auction and an Auction by Presidential Coins and Medals of exonumia and political memorabilia. [Len Harsel reports that he will have a table at this show] 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 St. Louis paper money show 21-24 November December 7, opening of World War II Numismatics exhibition at American Numismatic Association Museum, Colorado Springs, CO. [Warner Talso confirmed, Fred Schwan likely] 2003 FUN Florida United Numismatists, Orlando, 9 - 12Jan 2003 Confirmed table holders and attendees [Leo May (table), Fred Schwan (table), David Seelye (table), Larry Smulczenski (table w/Schwan), Harold Kroll, Marcus Turner, others please confirm. 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$$, Fred Schwan, David Seelye, Nick Shrier, Larry Smulczenski, Warner Talso, Marcus Turner, Tom Warburton, Mark Watson, Bill Yanchick, Tom Koch, Nancy and John Wilson, Bill McNease, Cuneyt Tolek Registration fee: $148 double occupancy $198 single occupancy (including meals and motel). Payments may be sent to BNRPress, 132 E. Second St., Port Clinton, OH 43452 or via PayPal to fredschwan@yahoo.com. Suggested airports in order of desirability: Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit (attempts will be made to provide ground transportation to/from these airports) $$ = Paid Running total: 24 ANA National Money Show, March 21-23, 2003, Charlotte (NC) Convention Center, Contact ANA Convention Department at convention@money.org or JoeBoling@aol.com for forms to exhibit. Hours are 10-6:30 Friday & Saturday & 10-2 Sunday. Hotels are The Westin Charlotte (704-375-2623) and the nearby Hampton Inn Charlotte Uptown (704-373-0917). Howard Daniel will be manning a joint NI/NBS/IBNS club table where Gramsters can meet each other. He is also conducting a joint NI/IBNS meeting on Saturday and invites all Gramsters to the meeting's show and tell session and to meet other collectors with similar interests. Masstricht April 4-6, Valkenburg, The Netherlands, contact Jos Eijsermans, Box 3240, NL 5930 Tegelen Netherlands ======================================== 2003 scholarship fund Donations of cash and numismatic material will be gladly accepted. Generally the numismatic material is auctioned at MPCFest, but might be sold via ebay or other places. Your scholarship donations help the hobby by sending qualified individuals to the ANA summer seminar military money class. Except for unavoidable charges like ebay fees, 100% of your donation goes to scholarships. 2003 Scholarship Donors Ed Hoffman RA Medina Dick Freyser Larry Smulczenski David Seelye Howard Daniel Steve Feller Warner Talso Pam West Mr. 691 Contact me at: "Marcus Turner" maturner@indy.rr.com Checks should be made out to the "Military Numismatists Scholarship". or Marcus Turner 8103 East US Highway 36 Suite 163 Avon, Indiana 46123 USA ========================================================== 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 RBalbaton@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) 586-4672 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) 720-0695 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. FOR SALE: 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 – MPC from position 8 and all military money counterfeits. 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 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!? U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos http://launch.yahoo.com/u2