From: "MPCgram" To: Subject: MPCGram 773 Date: Saturday, November 09, 2002 4:18 PM ============================================== MPC GRAM ============================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 003 - Number 773 Saturday November 9, 2002 WWII Material in St. Louis by Joel Shafer At this time, we are rapidly approaching the St. Louis auction. There are some great items in this sale including: 1) EIGHT different types of the 1000 Francs World War II phoenix notes from various French colonies. We are proud to have such an array of these pieces. It is highly unusual to have so many offered in one sale. Areas represented include: French Equatorial Africa; French Guiana; Guadeloupe; Martinique; and Saint Pierre & Miquelon. 2) Two examples of the Morocco 5000 Francs of 1.8.1943 (Standard Catalog #32). The first is an issued example; the next is a SPECIMEN. It is critical to mention that this is NOT the Specimen variety listed in World War II Remembered. Has it ever been reported? Quite possibly not... 3) More French flavor: an outstanding piece for beauty and rarity is the 5000 Francs ND (1955) Tresor Public issue (Standard Catalog #M13s), made for the post-World War II French occupation of Germany. Take a good look at this amazing note! 4) A high quality selection of Specimens from the World War II era. Countries include Algeria, Belgium, Curacao, Denmark, Djibouti, Norway, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, and others. Many of the items can speak for themselves far better than any words can. If anyone has any questions, please e-mail me at grbaypa@aol.com ============================================= Editorial ============================================== We have lots of new material for a second edition of World War II Remembered, but I have been hesitant to talk about a new edition. I had a deep, dark secret. I was very proud of the electronic system that we used in 1995 to create that book. In addition to the laid out text (about 190 files), we had over 4000 illustrations. It required two gigabytes of storage. That is small by 2002 standards, but was huge in 1995. In fact, I have reported many times that the book turned into a file management exercise. For a year or two after publication, I was careful to upgrade technology and create copies of the files in the newest formats etc. Then I got lazy, technology continued to change, old equipment failed. The secret was that I was not certain that I could produce the files used for the first edition, thereby jeopardizing the second. I spent $1000 to have a broken hard drive fixed. The operation was a success, but the files were not even on the darn thing. The ace in the whole that I have counted on for a few years has been some tape back ups that I made in 1994. I bought a $700 machine just to do the job and made many copies of the tapes. You expect that I lost the tapes. No, I have them, but I do not think that I can make the machine read them. A few nights ago I found three cartridges marked as having the Remembered files! I was of course delighted. Other demands went out the window while I worked on the cartridges. Of course they are a few generations old. I found the computer that had been used to create them. It was in the garage. You techies can put things in perspective when I tell you that it has a 33mh processor (yes, thirty-three). The machine ran just fine. I own two of the devices used to create the valuable cartridges. The company first came out with a one gigabite version, then two gigs. I bought both. The trouble was that I could not find either! I searched most of the night. I checked the website of the manufacturer and learned that no current solution is available. Frankly, to my surprise I found the larger device! It was in a box, under some papers, about six inches from my feet! I had not seen it in years. I was able to hook it to the old computer without difficulty and found that the files are there and in seemingly good shape! I was indeed excited. Then I had to figure out how to get them from the 33mh machine to the one gigahertz dual processor machine with coffee maker on the side (ok, so I exaggerate). There is no direct way (SCSI vs USB if you really want to know). Technology is in the way. When I bought the new coffee maker I found (bought) a little device that fought the SCSI/USB battle. It worked well enough then and I found it without too much problem, but the connectors just were not right. That is when I went to bed. The next morning I found an old piece of hardware with the appropriate connectors. By putting it in the middle of the chain I should be able to simply copy the files to the new machine. Well, as you can imagine, that solution did not work. I finally gave up and looked for external help. I found it in the person of a very knowledgeable, helpful, courteous boy scout type computer salesman. Basically he solved the problem, but it took an express package and some more worry, but ultimately, the task was accomplished. Now all 4000+ files are on my lap top. Well, it is a little more complicated than that. Because of the back ups that were on the cartridges and some of the files that were already on the external drive hooked to the system, many of the scans exist in as many as four places on my system. I know this because for the past three days I have been “putting the files in order.” Each of the 4000 files must be linked to one (or in a few cases several) of the 188 “text files.” [4000*188 = 752,000]. The “text files” were created in PageMaker in 1994/1995. PageMaker version 5. The current version is 7. I was amazed (and pleased) when I tried to open the first 1995 version 5 file with version 7. It worked perfectly. I was elated (and surprised), but the “system” got back at me for my joy. After five hours of opening files, examining them, and saving them in the new format something unexpected happened. It seems that somewhere along the line (like when I moved the files to the cartridges), I had converted the last 10 or so files to version 6. Can you believe this, my version 7 opened version 5 files perfectly, but would not even recognize the version 6 files! I had version 6.5 so I tried that. No luck. Eventually, in defeat, I checked the on line help. Under the title “conversion” was a nice discussion of various aspects of the problem. The final answer was that version 7 (I do not know about earlier versions) includes a very nice utility that will not only convert files, but can do that in batch mode. Twenty minutes after going to “help,” all 188 files were converted to version 7! (I did all 188, not just the 10 that had not been done.) I was particularly motivated to get the above conversions done because I am visiting Joe this weekend in Seattle. I wanted to have the entire book on my laptop coffee maker so that we can enter some of his discoveries while I am there. I expect that we will also discuss scheduling for the project and might be able to make an announcement about that soon. Fred ============================================== Mail Call ============================================== Dear Gram, I must be in Hawaii (or sun burn somewhere) as my face is red. My ignorance has evoked a huge blush. In my haste to reply to Jay Jackson's letter I forgot about the variations shown by Simek and Medcalf. Peter Huntoon's explanation about the logotype plates makes excellent sense and provides a more logical explanation for the variations than the paper shrinkage phenomenon which I suggested. Fred Bart Dear Gram, I guess it goes without saying, my favorite note would be Series 641 .10 cent. Best Wishes, Philip M. Goldstein Dear Phil, Ah, yes, you caught me. When I started this discussion, I intended to do one of two things. I was going to make a rule that Series 641 MPC would not be included and/or I was going to block your email address. Since I did neither, I guess that we will have to consider it. Editor Dear, Re: the vote. I vote the straight party ticket, if it includes THE BOOK. Bill Murray Dear Bill, Thanks (again) for the nice thought. While your nomination is not exactly in the spirit of the thing, it brings up another idea. When we finish this series, we can ask folks to tell us some of their favorite books for use in the hobby. Editor ============================================== 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