=========================================== MPC GRAM =========================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 004 - Number 804 Sunday December 14, 2002 WWII Gibralter POW Notes By Marcus Turner Anyone who as spent a lot of time with their nose in the World War II Remembered book know that Fred and Joe spared no effort expense in providing us with something more than just a catalog. The history and background information is what makes the book so great. There are a few isolated instances where the information provided is a little lean. One such instance occurs on page 215. The section on Gibraltar has an entire ½ page dedicated to it. What further peaked my curiosity was the "sketched" representation of the Gibraltar POW listed at the bottom. Now this must have been something very special if Fred and Joe had to resort to rendering a likeness for publication in their book. In fact it is something very special. Gibraltar is the small British colony on the extreme southern coast of Spain. Only a 16 mile strait on which Gibraltar sits, separates Europe from Africa and the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. The strategic importance of Gibraltar both in military and economic terms is obvious. The small territory is approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) long and ½ kilometer (1/3 mile) wide with a current population of approximately 27,000. The area was captured by the British from the Spanish in 1704. Since then the Spanish have tried many times to recapture the tiny area, but without success. Spain's claim to the territory is still in dispute today. During World War II, the civilian population was evacuated and replaced by a very large and strong British air and naval presence. The territory became a strategic command center for activity in the Mediterranean as well as for landing operations in North Africa. Many allied POWs are known to have escaped via Gibraltar over the course of the war. The official government website confirms that there was a POW camp located in Gibraltar during World War II but offers few details. Lance Campbell refers to the location as the Laguna Camp. It was a temporary holding area for German and Italian POWs during WWII. From Gibraltar prisoners were sent to POW camps in the United Kingdom, Canada and even the United States. The only known notes produced for this camp were in denominations of sixpence. Campbell further reports that a "single run of 2000 sixpence notes was ordered under a government contract." He further refers to the note 05001 (with a photo) as the only piece known to exist. This note has the word "Specimen" hand written across the face of the note. This was the same piece that Fred and Joe were trying to illustrate in WWII remembered. Back in 2000, Harold Kroll provided me a photocopy of an article out the Bank Note Reporter. Unfortunately the date of the issue was not on the photocopy, but it was one of the earlier editions (Harold, do you know the date of that BNR?). The headline reads "Unknown POW Scrip Shown to IBNS." The article further states "A slide was shown of a previously unknown Prisoner of War camp scrip for a denomination of a 6 pence issued in Gibraltar, with the world "specimen" hand written across the note. The note in question caused a great deal on interest. It is presumed that the note was issued in a transit camp for German and Italian prisoners being shipped to England, possibly from the African front. The style indicated a World War II issue dated between 1941 and 1944." The note was presented at the meeting by Yasha Beresiner of London. The second sighting of a Gibraltar Laguna POW note would not come until 2000. It came out of Australia! The note was serial number 0488 and was published in full color in the catalog of Australian dealer John Pettit. Not only was it identified but was available for sale! I immediately contacted John and made arrangements to buy the note. It now resides in my collection. The two existing notes were brought together at MPC Fest II in 2001. The above mentioned "specimen" #05001 was brought to the fest by Tom Warburton of the U.K. The side by side comparison revealed that the two notes were nothing alike. Tom's note was about twice the size of mine. It was printed on a thin, pink paper with printer's notations in the lower left margin. The back was completely blank. The background patterns of the two notes were also completely different. My issued piece was printed on a heavy green card stock and has a 4-digit serial number (as opposed to Tom's 5-digit). The back of my note has the stamp of the Women's Auxiliary. My theory is that the "specimen" piece is not a specimen at all, but a trial design. This would explain the differences in the notes and why the "specimen" was printed on thin paper. It also explains the high serial number of 5001. I guess that I am going to have to cut Fred a little slack for providing so little on these pieces in WWII Remembered. There is not much information to go on, other than the identification of an issued piece. If any gramsters have any information, comments, observations, concerning these notes or the camp itself please write. =========================================== Editorial =========================================== It is a rare and wonderful day when we get to welcome a new columnist! It is made even better by a great article. Marcus, you have set a high standard. No matter, if your articles are half as good in the future they will be great. Of course, I have some commentary as well. Gibralter is high on the too long a list of places that I want to visit. I like the Gibralter POW notes. I want to visit the site of the camp at Gibralter even if there is nothing to see. I want to look at the harbor where Italian sailor piloted torpedoes to the side of Allied ships (at least one "squad" of such sailors was caught by the Spanish shore patrol and interned! No numismatic relics of the internment are known (great are for research). Actually I tried to visit Gibralter twice when I was traveling on Eurrail pass. I could not even figure out the connections and I tried. I went to travel agencies in France and could not even find out if it was possible to cross the "frontier" from Spain to Gibralter. When I make this trip happen, you can be sure that I will report it. I had one other experience with the Gibralter POW notes. It was one of those terrible missed opportunities. A dealer sold one of these notes to Mel Steinberg. The dealer then consulted with some other dealer about the possible value of the note. When the dealer mentioned a price to the seller, the seller was in shock because it was substantially more than the price at which he had offered it to Mel. The seller came to me and asked if such a note could possible be worth the amount that he had been told. I too was surprised at the price. I thought that this price was way too low, but since it had been sold, I down played the mistake. As you can imagine I rushed to Mel's table. In the few minutes the note had been sold! However, Mel still had the piece in his possession and I THINK that I was able to scan it, but have not found the scan in recent years. It is possible (likely?) that the note is the one sold by Pettit to Marcus. Possibly one of these two fellows can confirm (or refute) this. I had better stop or my commentary on Marcus' article will be longer than the initial item. Marcsu, welcome and thanks. Fred =========================================== Mail Call =========================================== Dear Editor, The following is from a summary of US General Court Martials in Korea : On 21 September 1952, a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant was arrested, following a six-week investigation, and charged with 16 counts of accepting military payment certificates from a Korean civilian in exchange for U.S. classified documents. On 8 June 1953, the 34-year-old [name deleted] was convicted by general court-martial and sentenced to 20 years at hard labor on charges of conspiracy to pass "secrets of the Sabre jet fighter to the Communists." David Klinger Dear Gram, Was there an MPC Gram 801? If so I did not receive same and would like to. Roger Urce Dear Roger, First, we checked, your subscription is up to date. We have our copy of 801 and feedback has been received so it was sent. We have sent you another copy (no charge, but no hoarding please). If other readers had a proplem with 801, please tell us (it was a good one-Thurski!!). Editor =========================================== 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: FOR SALE Series 651 Twenty-Five Cents Note in UNC. Have three (3) available: SPECIAL FOR GRAMSTERS: $550.00 POSTPAID. Series 651 $5.00 Notes in AU/UNC Four (4) Available SPECIAL FOR GRAMSTERS: $125.00 POSTPAID Thank you. Continental Coin Investors, Inc. 3123 N. HWY 98 Lakeland, FL 33805-2103 Tel 863-603-9899 Fax 863-603-9880 Toll Free 866-603-9899 WEBSITE: www.internet4coins.com Email: mpccoin@hotmail.com Email: mpccoin@ozline.net $ 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 Wanted : Japan Occupation Malaya 10 cent 2 letters , Burma 1 & 5 cent 2 letters ! High grade preferred ! Looking to buy 1 each all EVEN and all ODD serial numbers on a Series 681 $1note, 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