From: "MPCgram" To: Date: Monday, January 20, 2003 11:17 AM =========================================== MPC GRAM =========================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 004 - Number 831 Monday January 20, 2003 ANA Education to Fest Gail Baker, director of education for the American Numismatic Association, has reserved a spot at Fest IV. Baker is the creator of the military money seminars at the ANA summer seminar, Gramster, scholarship donor, and all around good numismatist. For the Fest she has agreed to coordinate show’n tell sessions. Festers with ideas for show’n tell should contact Baker at education@money.org. Baker’s reservation brings the total registered Festers to 32 and new Festers to 7, both records. Burmese General Ne Win Passed Away by Howard A. Daniel III Here I go again with information from the Obituaries section of The Washington Post! As many of you know who collect World War II financial instruments, General Ne Win (Bright Son) was one of the thirty Burmese nationalists sent to Japan in 1940 for military training. When he returned to Burma, he became a high-ranking officer in the Burma (-Japanese) National Army. So he was there during the entire time JIM and other financial instruments were issued during the war. When the Japanese were in full retreat, he switched to the side of the Allies! By 1948, he was the second highest officer in Burma, and fourteen years later, led a coup to become number one. It became quickly apparent that the general did not have all of his nuts and bolts tightened down and he made some very irrational decisions that started Burma on a downward economic spiral. One of his most famous decisions was creating the odd banknote denominations of 15, 35, 45, 75 and 90 Kyat. This decision was partly based on his lucky number of 9, and that his astrologer had told him they would be good numbers for the economy. I know it is morbid to think about researching the Obituaries sections of your newspapers, but if you read it everyday, you will eventually find someone who might have had information and pieces of interest to you (and us). After a respectful time, please contact the family about his military (or civilian) work. You might be able to save some files and pieces from being trashed, and purchasing them might even provide his or her survivors with needed funds. The Discontinuance of Scrip by David Klinger Here is some fresh information regarding the use of MPC in Germany, France, and Italy. I have been reading portions of the US Army Europe (USAREUR) command histories and I came across an interesting section in the Annual Historical Report for 1 July 57 - 30 June 58. This particular report was downgraded from SECRET to Unclassified on 4 February 2001. These files are scans rather than text files, so I had to transcribe the section (i.e. ignore any typos). I have a few comments after the following quoted article [footnotes deleted]: "The Discontinuance of Scrip. In September 1955 the Department of Defense had formulated the policy of discontinuing the use of military payment certificates (MPC, or scrip) wherever possible and advantageous. While the Federal Republic of Germany had indicated no objections to the use of dollar currency as early as 1956, other European nations in the MPC area had not agreed to such a change. During FY 1957 detailed plans had been prepared for a conversion from MPC to the use of United States currency. However, the unfavorable situation that had arisen in Europe as a result of the Suez and Hungarian crises had delayed the implementation of existing plans. Even so, planning had advanced so far that relatively little notice would be required to take action. Discussions concerning the advisability of a conversion to dollars were resumed in November 1957, when a USAREUR representative attended a conference in Washington at which Treasury Department officials and representatives of the Office of the Chief of Finance reached certain tentative conclusions. Since the Treasury Department no longer raised objections, U.S. coins could be introduced into the U.S. area of responsibility in Germany as soon after 1 January 1958 as the needed coins could be collected and transported to Europe. Because of the implications of such action with regard to the public debt ceiling, paper currency could not be introduced before 1 July 1958, however. While the Treasury Department intended to approach the French and Italian Governments on the subject, it was doubted that permission to use dollar currency in those countries would be granted. At the same time it was decided to use U.S. Treasury checks for all official dollar disbursements in Germany as soon as check forms could be made available. In December 1957, after the decision had been made to introduce coin by 1 March 1958, the immediate shipment of $3 million worth of U.S. coin was requested. However, preferring uniform currency policies throughout the command, USAREUR recommended that the use of U.S. currency be delayed until France and Italy joined Germany in accepting the use of U.S. currency. While the Department of the Army conceded the reasonableness of this view, the introduction of U.S. currency into West Germany was to proceed in any case. In the meantime, negotiations with France and Italy were continuing, and it was felt that the execution of the changeover in West Germany might influence those countries to change their positions on the subject. Moreover, since the public debt situation in the United States had eased, the Treasury Department had advised that paper currency would be available after 31 March. On 12 February the Department of the Army directed that the currency conversion was to take place as soon as preparations could be completed. USAREUR was assigned administrative responsibility for the operation, and USCINCEUR was to decide whether coin would be introduced first or in conjunction with paper currency later. The comptroller's staff prepared three plans for the conversion. An unclassified exchange with a maximum of advanced publicity could be made most easily and would permit prefunding of clubs, messes, post exchanges, and banks. One form of classified conversion would introduce coin on an unclassified basis with advanced publicity, giving a period of approximately 1 month to effect a gradual exchange of coins for fractional MPC; some 2 months later dollar notes would be introduced without announcement during a 1-day classified exchange. The third, and least desirable plan would introduce all currency on an unannounced 1-day-only, classified conversion as had been done in the past with MPC conversions. USAREUR recommended the first plan to USEUCOM since it would involve the least problems and there seemed to be no great need for secrecy. USEUCOM concurred and forwarded this recommendation to the Department of the Army. Early in April the command was advised that France had agreed to the use of dollars in that country and that the conversion would also apply there. At approximately the same time, however, the Department of the Army indicated that the currency conversion in West Germany and France would be part of a worldwide MPC conversion. Since the MPC change in other areas would have to be protected, the conversion in France and Germany would have to remain on the same security classification level as the over-all change. Although the changeover would be on a 1-day, crash basis, an 11-day grace period for the gradual withdrawal of fractional MPC from circulation was authorized following the change day. During the two weeks preceding the changeover--which took place on 27 May--the needed cash was distributed from the Karlsruhe finance office. Vans accompanied by convoys of armed guards were used to transport the money to the various disbursing offices. Four days before the conversion day Italy agreed to permit the use of dollar currency there, and aircraft had to be employed to ship the cash to USASETAF disbursing offices in time. Since security restrictions prevented the announcement of the conversion before 0100 hours on conversion day, and the Stars and Stripes deadline for stories was before midnight of the day before publication, the news had to be released by different means. Members of the command were made aware of the conversion through spot announcements over the Armed Forces Network stations at 15 minute intervals, beginning at 0600 hours of conversion day. In the conversion, only dollar notes of MPC's were exchanged for United States currency; fractional MPC's were removed from circulation by being taken in at retail outlets, and coin was introduced to replace them through the same sources in the routine giving of change over the 11-day period following the conversion." [and from the chronology section of the FY 1958 USAREUR History, a short entry] "May 27 [1958] - Dollar currency replaces military payment certificates in France, Germany, and Italy." [This means that MPC series 521 was the last series used in Germany, France, and Italy, unless, of course, MPC was reintroduced after the conversion to U.S currency and coin. I found no evidence of this in USAREUR histories. However, in Schwan MPC4 and in WWII Remembered it indicates that series 541 was used in these countries until 26 May 1961. I always wondered why I never saw any MPC during a port visit I made to Bremerhaven Germany aboard the destroyer USS Cassin Young (DD-793) in July 1958 - - now I know.] USAREUR web address: www.hqusareur.army.mil/ =========================================== Editorial =========================================== Well, Gram/Fest headquarters is now manned again. Judy is out of sick bay, but is still on bed rest. Although this situation is still “disruptive,” it is far better than before. If I may be serious for a moment (yes, it is hard), Judy and I both appreciate the many good will and get-well thoughts forwarded by just about every means. Thank you all. Doug sure did a great job in publishing the Gram while I was unable. That was completely at his initiative. It is in keeping with the finest Gram traditions. Thanks, Doug. It is an amazing and fun thing for me to get to read Grams instead of publish them, but I hope that the next time that I have this luxury, that it will be under better circumstances. My personal email boxes, phone message machine, USPS inbox, and every other imaginable distraction are pulling at me. I hope to start on those things today, but the medical demands will probably be high for the next week. Thank you for your patience. Fred =========================================== Mail Call =========================================== Dear Gram, I seem to recall reading and seeing on the History channel that the Russians actually employed Mongolian cavalry during the winter defeat of the Germans at Stalingrad or other Eastern Front engagements. Thus the vignette on the Tanna Tuva bond is perhaps up to date? They probably didn't see modern tanks, etc. until later on when the Russians went through Manchukuo and into North Korea routing the Japanese towards the end of WW II. Cheers, Colin Dear Gram, At the 50th Anniversary dinner of my local coin club, I was seated next to a former marine & we started talking about MPCs. He then asked me a question which I could not answer & was hoping some gramsters might be able to answer it. He wanted to know why MPCs are the size they are. He said obviously the government had a reason for not making them the same size as the U.S. dollar. What therefore is the reason for the size selected? Does anybody know? Thanks, Ken Berger =========================================== CALENDAR OF EVENTS =========================================== 2002 February 1 deadline for Fest auction material. Send material to: Philip M. Goldstein P.O. Box 641 Highmount, NY 12441-0641 or Larry Smulczenski Box 263 Shalimar, FL 32579 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$$, Tom Warburton, Mark Watson, Bill Yanchick, Tom Koch, Nancy and John Wilson?, Bill McNease, Cuneyd Tolek?, Wendel Wolka?, Al Glaser, Ian Marshal, John Cheney?, Wes and Rod Hardy, Sam Feeback, Gail Baker. Registration fee: $148 double occupancy $198 single occupancy (including meals and motel). Payments may be sent to BNRPress, 132 E. Second St., Port Clinton, OH 43452 or via PayPal to fredschwan@yahoo.com. Suggested airports in order of desirability: Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit (attempts will be made to provide ground transportation to/from these airports) $$ = Paid Running total: 32, ?=new fester (running total 7 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 Memphis International Paper Money Show: 13-15 June, Cook Convention Center, 255 N. Main St., Memphis TN 38103-1623 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 application for military money scholarship http://www.papermoneyworld.net/news/MilitaryNumismatists Scholarship Fund 2003.pdf PCDA National and World Paper Money Convention. November 19-23, 2003. St. Louis Hilton Airport Hotel, 10330 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63134. ======================================== 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 Chris Connell Bill Haines Contact me at: "Marcus Turner" mailto: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 IMPORTANT SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION The last information given in the gram did not include the official release of application/donation information. This information can be found at the link below. We encourage everyone to print copies of this information and distribute it to those who might be interested. Further you are encouraged to e-mail the pdf document to anyone you see fit. Thank you http://www.papermoneyworld.net/news/Military Numismatists Scholarship Fund 2003.pdf Marcus Turner =========================================== MPC ANA Museum Project =========================================== ANA collection of MPC: Thanks to donations from Ed Beaman, Michael Cummings, David Pitchford, Marcus Turner, and Mr. 691 the ANA MPC collection is current as follows: Series 100 - [50 sen], [1Y, 5Y, 10Y, 20Y all A underprint] Series 461 - 5 cents Series 471 - None Series 472 - [5 cents], [$10] Series 481 - 5 cents, [10, 25 cents] 50 cents, $1, $10 Series 521 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, [$10] Series 541 - 5, 10, 25 cents Series 591 - [$1] Series 611 - [5, 10, 25 cents] Series 641 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1, $5, $10 Series 651 - [$1] Series 661 - [10, 50c], [$5], [$1, $5] $10 Series 681 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1, [$5], [$20] 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 --Chris Connell ANA Museum Collection Manager 818 Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903 collections@money.org ============================================ For Sale ============================================ For Sale: 50" X 29" Nazi flag with 6 other Nazi/German patches. Spice up your collection with these. Contact Frank Clark at frank_spmc@yahoo.com =========================================== RESEARCH New modification to the database you can now retrieve your password if you have forgotten at the main logon screen. Keep in mind syntax is important. The mpc database has changed its name it now going to be refered as, WW II P a p e r M o n e y D a t a B a s e This is just a hint of things to come If you are having truble loging on please inform doug bell At doug@papermoneyworld.net 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 http://www.thempcman.net/, mailto: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. 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. =========================================== 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