=========================================== MPC GRAM =========================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 004 - Number 801 Thurski December 12, 2002 Financing the War-- Aeroplane Fund By Larry “Ski” Smulczenski I'm sitting here at my computer and trying to do some research to write my weekly Thurski article, but I must tell you my heart just isn't in it. My wife and I play in a Sunday golf group with about 17 other couples, and this week we have had to attend funerals for two women from our group. I have just returned from the services for one of those folks and the mind just is finding it hard to concentrate. The first one this week was expected as she had been suffering with cancer for some time. But the one today, was totally unexpected and has hit every one hard. This lady was the women's champ from our golf course and in the peak of health. It's really hard to believe she is gone. I had planned to do some research today and write about a neat little item I fortunately acquired on eBay. You can see a scan of the item if you click on www.papermoneyworld.net/grams/thurski121202.htm I have not been able to do all the research that I wanted to do on this item, but will pass on some information that I have found and propose some questions. Maybe there is someone out there who is familiar with the item or can enlighten us about its use. You can see that this item appears to be a receipt for a donation to an Aeroplane Fund. This is definitely a World War II item as you can see the date of 1941 is listed right under the title. The value of the receipt is for one rupee. Now one rupee is currently worth only about 2 cents. I know that back in 1941 it had to be worth a lot more. I haven't found the value yet, but even if it was a couple of bucks, isn't this a difficult way to raise money to buy aircraft? Just what was a rupee worth in 1941? I have to admit I don't know a lot about India. When I saw the Hissar District, I could not place it in the north, south, east or west. I did find a web site that showed the Hissar District was in the state of Haryana just to the west of New Delhi. It is located in the Northern part of India and appears on the map to be only about a hundred kilometers from Pakistan on the west and the same approximate distance from the Peoples Republic of China on the east. Hissar District has an area of 4191 sq. kilometers. My little receipt is signed by the Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the Hissar Dist. War Committee. Who exactly were they fighting? If you go to your World War II Remembered and turn to page 768 you will find a nice little piece about the conflict between the British and the Indians. Seems like the British viceroy in India declared India a belligerent when war broke out in September 1939, without consulting or asking approval of the Indian congress. This resulted in much turmoil and a congressional resolution demanding Indian freedom from Britain as a condition of participation in the war. So was this fund to procure aeroplanes for a fight against the British or were the aircraft to be used in the Allied cause against the Japanese? As a result of the unrest mentioned above and the desire by some politicians to expel the British from India along with the Japanese victories in Southeast Asia, Chandra Bose escaped from India and after trips to Germany and Japan, formed the Indian National Army (INA) comprised of Indian POW's held by the Japanese, deserters and Indian residents in overrun British territories. Bose formed the Government of Azad Hind (Free India) in Singapore. The INA fighting with the Japanese reached the eastern border of India where they attacked British fortifications. They were defeated and driven back into Burma. These troops dispersed and melted away when the Japanese lost Burma. So I ask the question, could these receipts be for an underground fund raiser to support the Azad Hind rebellion? So that's my neat little eBay find. You now know at least as much as I do about it. If there is any gramster who has any other info about the receipt, let us hear from you. More Personal Impressions From Colorado Springs Warner Talso We arrived at the exhibit right after it opened at 1000 on Saturday. There was already a crowd. As Joe indicated, over 550 people attended. That means a steady, reasonably crowded exhibit area all day long. All kinds of people attended. There is a high emotional content to something like this. Notably there were older veterans who wanted to reconnect with what was probably the most significant experience of their lives. One gentleman wore a multicolor wool sweater with all his full size ribbons pinned across his chest in three rows. Another had his miniature ribbons on his coat lapel. Jean Reldy was passing out copies of a newspaper article detailing his experiences. He was a Frenchman living in Manila on December 8th and, as a result, was interned by the Japanese for the next three years. Young and old. Many parents brought their children. Recall Seminarian Adna Wilde was dressed in his 10th Mountain Division white camouflage overgarment, ski boots, and forage cap. He had his Silver Star pinned to his chest. A gentleman with two boys, maybe 10 and 12, introduced himself to Adna and explained that both of the boys’ grandfathers had fought in WWII and he - the father - wanted them to meet a real hero. Adna, very dignified and serious, leaned over and shook the boys’ hands and said hello. The displays did an excellent job of illustrating the breadth and depth of numismatics involvement in the war. The scope is too extensive to try to list here. You must go see for yourself. Every attendee received, as souvenir, a Tombac nickel (read the book!). Jane very astutely noted that the exhibit is straight forward and makes no attempt to be politically correct. Many museums today are showing a disturbing trend of revising history. Remember the furor over exhibiting the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian wherein the accompanying text described how the U.S. started the war with Japan. This exhibit lays out the facts. Period. Just as it should. Joe noted the Seminarians and Gramsters who attended. Bob Kutcher came from Nebraska and brought a 25 pound smoked turkey that was lunch for the museum staff and Gramsters. Joe, looking fine in his dress blue uniform, was there from Seattle. The presence of the Gram/Fest/Seminar community was highly visible and highly supportive. What amazed me was that everyone had their pay books (as well as their challenge coins). Remember, there was no announcement of a pay call. Fred has trained us well. The MPCFest Central Finance Office is to be commended for the special issue of Series 022 souvenir MFC prepared for this event. Not knowing what to expect, the CFO had prepared 15 sets of three notes (total of 45 notes) plus a specimen set for the event. Joe was pay officer. Friday evening Joe and I had naively speculated on what to do with the leftovers. Ha! Upon opening of the exhibit it immediately became apparent that the supply of notes would quickly be exhausted. An on-the-spot decision was made that would Joe distribute them individually to people who he thought would most appreciate them. A point being that it will be a real challenge for collectors to winkle out those notes, if they choose to do so. In summary, it was a very satisfying experience. Remember the exhibit is open until August 15, 2003. =========================================== Editorial =========================================== It was great receiving the various congratulations letters about the 800 milestone. I warned you yesterday that I would spend two editorials on this subject, so this is number two! This weak attempt is balanced by two great features and of course the aforementioned letters. Those of you who did not write about the 800 (and even those who did) can now write about something else. One thing that comes to mind is the annual prediction Gram. That is the January 1 issue. We want to know your predictions for 2003. Those of you who sent predictions last year can also recount those if you like. Fred =========================================== Mail Call =========================================== Dear Editor Swan, Congratulations are due for stretching your neck out 800 issues ago to launch the Gram in the cyberpool of space, and thank you for seeing that I didn't swim by the event by sending me two (2) issues of the 800th wave. Bill Murray Dear Gram, I would like to thank you for completing 800 issues of the Gram. Since I got two of #800 I think number 1000 shouldn't take too long if you continue to issue two at a time. In spite of that, please renew my subscription at the standard rate. Bill McNease Dear Gram, I don’t know what happened but I am receiving two grams now. One will be fine. Thank You. Gary Lee Hicks WOW! I have the great fortune of having received two copies of the HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE Gram #800. I would like to offer one copy for sale in the POST / BASE EXCHANGE(PX/BX/NEX). Thanks! Al Babb WOW! I have the great fortune of having received two copies of the HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE Gram #800. I would like to offer one copy for sale in the POST / BASE EXCHANGE(PX/BX/NEX). Thanks! Al Babb Dear MPCGram: I am an American owned company operating in Bangkok dealing in old maps, prints, books, militaria, philitelia and certain numismatics. I would like to get on the MPCGram distribution list. Thanks much, John Conrad Dear PX Manager, This sounds like a piece that every gramster needs - it had better be auctioned-- $ 0.00 Series 521 MPC Note Joe Hello Fred, I'm planning on attending the FUN show, so you can add me to the list. Take care and see you all in Florida!! William E. Yanchick Dear Fred: I have a table at fun(Sharing with Scott Winslow!). You said it was in your gram list but it is not! Please add! congratulations on 800 grams and may there be many 800 more! Ian A. Marshall Dear Gram, WANTED: Rendezvous with Destiny MFC serial #7 set. "BIG money paid" contact: thetrader.2@cox.net Thank you. Al Glaster =========================================== CALENDAR OF EVENTS =========================================== 2002 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, Howard Daniel, David Amey, Rod and Wes Hardy, (with table), Al Glaser, Bill Yanchick, Ian Marshall [with table] 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, Cuneyd Tolek†, Wenell Wolka†, Al Glaser. 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: 26, †=new fester (running total 5 new Festers). 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 Military Numismatics Summer Seminar Session I dates are Saturday, June 28, to Friday, July 4; session II, Saturday, July 5 to Friday, July 11, 2003 Link for more and general information: http://www.money.org/sumsem2003.html Link to photos from Seminar II http://www.money.org/summer2002images5.html ======================================== 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 Leo May John & Nancy Wilson Max Spiegel Gail Baker 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 =========================================== MPC ANA Museum Project =========================================== Below is a list of the MPC holdings in the ANA Museum at this time. It goes without saying that donations of additional notes will be most welcome. Series 100 – [50 sen] Series 461 - 5 cents Series 471 - None Series 472 – [5 cents] Series 481 - 5 cents, [10 cents,] 50 cents, $1 Series 521 - 5, 15, 25, 50 cents Series 541 - 5, 10, 25 cents Series 591 - NONE Series 611 - NONE Series 641 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1, $5, $10 Series 651 – [$1] Series 661 - [10, 50c], [$5], $10 Series 681 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1, [45] Series 691 - [$1, $5, $10, $20] Series 692 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1 Series 701 - [$1, $5, $10, $20] [50c etc.] = notes donated by Gramsters contact Chris Connell ANA Museum Collections Manager 818 North Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3279 collections@money.org (719) 632-2646 =========================================== RESEARCH =========================================== Papermoneyworld maintains an innovative interactive data base of all military payment certificates. Everyone is invited to enter notes in their possession or that they have observed. Visit the site at: http://www.papermoneyworld.net/user/default.asp this project is financially supported by David Seelye www.thempcman.net, coinman@rochester.rr.com =========================================== 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) 647 8938 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 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 Pomexport Ltd. 1-201-641-6641 / Fax: 1-201-641-1700 E-Mail: Info@pomexport.com // website: http://www.Pomexport.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: $10.00 Series 521 MPC Note please contact camiller05@hotmail.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 Rendezvous with Destiny MFC Series 022 souvenir notes. Paying up to five times face value. Put your for sale notice in the Gram. I would like to list my Christmas want list. I'm looking for the following notes: Series 100 Supplemental A yen - the 100 yen note. Series 100 Supplemental B yen - the 1,000 yen note. Series 521 .25 cent, 3rd printing. Series 521 .50 cent, 2nd printing. Series 521 $5.00, 2nd printing. Thank you, I hope someone has these notes for sale. Gary Looking to buy 1 each all EVEN and all ODD serial numbers on a Series 681 $1 note, Uncirculated or better. Also, I personally consider any zero in the serial number to be an even digit. =================================================== 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!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com .