From: "Fred Schwan" To: Subject: MPCGram 888 Date: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 9:08 AM =========================================== MPC GRAM =========================================== Covering the entire World of Military Numismatics Series 004 - Number 888 Tuesday April 1, 2003 Gram Ceasing Operation?Last Issue Tomorrow, no refunds After four series (years) and nearly 900 issues, the MPCGram will cease publication tomorrow. Gram 889 will recap the history of the Gram and include some features that are on hand. It will also include some comments on the potential destruction of MPC Series 691 and 701. The publisher cites personal problems, see also editorial below. Additionally, the publisher states that he believes that everything that it is possible to discover and publish on MPC and other military money has been published by now, so the usefulness of the Gram would be decidedly reduced in the coming weeks. He also thanks everyone who has contributed time, and energy (no one has contributed or otherwise sent money) to the publication. Unfortunately, he states that no refunds will be sent for unmailed issues. Other closely related enterprises will also be closed effective tomorrow. These include papermoneyworld.net and BNRPress. MPCFest V is cancelled. All of these enterprises are for sale. Interested parties should send trucks of money (not cancelled with holes) to the PCBH. Series 7XX Designs Discovered by Sarah Morrow Just wanted to let everyone know about my recent discovery at work. Paul, my husband, told me I should send in a letter to the Gram. He served over in Viet Nam, and brought back a couple of the 692 fractionals when he returned. It was not until he went to a gun show a couple of years ago that he found out people actually collected MPCs. Of course, his first purchases were to get all the 692 notes, and then he started buying the other ones. After about six months, he stumbled across Mr. Schwan?s book at a flea market, and that?s when he really got hooked. Anyway, I work at the BEP over in the Annex Building as a clerk typist, but looking forwards to retiring in 2 more years. As part of my ?and other duties as required,? I do an annual clean out of the files, boxing and storing anything that won?t be used for the next couple of years, if at all. We store everything for seven years, then after that, it gets sent to the burn facility. So down to the basement I go with my two boxes of files behind me on the moving cart. Like my home, I couldn?t find a place to put the boxes in the storage room, so I had to start moving stuff around to make room. While moving some boxes, I came across one from 1995 and moved it off to the sides since it should have been destroyed earlier this year. Finally, after rearranging about 10 boxes into a new packing pattern (my husband would have been proud as he always gets upset whenever I pack the car for a trip), I grab the old box and start loading it onto the cart. I must of tripped over the wheel or something as I stumbled, dropping the box and splitting its side. Inside the box were files from Kenneth Wyrum that he must of had in his possession when he retired in 1995. Kenny was an engraver here. Lots of memos and other ?business as usual? files in the box. However, one of the items scattered across the floor was a letter from Cecil McCoy, the curator of the BEP?s collection. In the letter she thanks Ken for sending in the sketches he drew up for Series 711 MPC notes. Someone, maybe Kenny, had crossed out the 11 and made them Series 7XX. Anyway, the sketches showed the reverse of the $10 and $20 note. On the reverse of the $10 note is a picture of the Astrodome. On the $20 note, there?s a picture of a football stadium. Paul says it looks like Soldier Field, but I really don?t know. I looked through the rest of the box, but didn?t see any other designs. I tried calling Cecil when I made it back to my desk, but he is on annual leave now. I will try to get a hold of her next week sometime to get more information. Also, if you want, I?ll try to get a scan of the two notes later this week and send it in. Hoard Found?Glaser Hospitalized From reports by Steve Swish and Mrs. Glaser Steve Swish is traveling in Asia. Because of his new MPC passion, he followed up on old contacts and hit the jackpot. He located a former finance officer who now lives in Asia. This gentleman had kept various souvenirs of his service. Included in the hoard are specimen books of MPC Series 461, 471, and possibly 472 (report is confused on this matter). The 471 booklet has had the $5 denomination removed, but is otherwise intact. These early series are also represented by hundreds of various denominations in various conditions. The biggest surprise (by far) in the hoard is a partial bundle of Series 541 $5 certificates. Most are gem uncirculated, but a few have corner dings and the like. Steve has been able to get photographs of some of the hoard, but has not been able to get ANY of the notes. Photographs were sent to papermoneyworld.net where they will be available Tue evening (after about 6pm eastern). www.papermoneyworld.net/541pack.jpg www.papermoneyworld.net/541.jpg www.papermoneyworld.net/591.jpg. Steve also sent copies of the photos to Al Glaser who is now recuperating in a local hospital. His wife reported that she was awakened by Als uncontrolled screaming. She called 911 and reports that doctors say that he will recover and will be released in a few days. =========================================== Editorial =========================================== I am sorry to say that I am worn out. I have simply had it. Miss a Gram for a day, get complaints. State an honest opinion get criticized. Grams too long. Too Short. Complain because your name does not appear in the Hot Contact List. It does not stop there. Have the Fest in February, complaints. Change it to April, complaints. Friends of 30 and of 3 years do not talk to me. Here is the best one of all, try to make a little money on any of these projects (or even recover costs) and people go ballistic. Gram, Fest, Seminar, scholarships, website (papermoneyworld.net). I am finished. Call it retired. I will probably keep collecting after a break. I am uncertain about the books. Everything is for sale: Gram, Fest, (guess I cannot sell the seminar) website, book copyrights. Yes, it has been fun over the decades. As many have learned over the decades it is the people and the hunt that make it such a joy, and I have had plenty of good times in that way. In the future I expect that I will remember the good times, but the anger and bitterness recently has gotten me down. It is time to leave. Fred =========================================== MAIL CALL =========================================== TOKYO, March 31, 2003 Dear Fred, I have been following with great interest the story and comments about the Series 691 and 701 notes. Now I have sort of a dilemma of my own. Perhaps you could ask the gramsters how to best handle this situation as it is really tormenting me. (I have gotten very little sleep the last few nights) A week or so ago I visited Camp Zama, an Army base about an hour out of Tokyo. I was once stationed there in the early 1970?s. I attended a flea market on base and got to talking with an old Japanese gentlemen who had worked at Army finance for more than 40 years. After I told him that I was very interested in MPC notes, he recalled with great fondness the days when he had issued these notes. He then invited me over to his house for sake and I accepted. When I arrived and after we were on the third large bottle of sake things started to get really interesting. In one of his closets he had a medium size trunk and asked if I would like to see what was in it, and I replied, sure. I could not believe my eyes when he opened the lid of this heavy cherry wood trunk! It was like a treasure chest! In it were stacks and stacks of original CU packs (with the bands intact) of long ago invalidated MPC notes, original packs just as crisp as the day they were sent to Camp Zama. Most were wrapped in furoshiki, a Japanese style cloth made for wrapping and carrying items. Being in Army Finance all those years he knew that these notes were no longer convertible and wondered if I could use them in some way. I immediately replied that I could surely put them to good use, perhaps make a display out of them or use them for educational purposes. Well, I got them, and after arriving back in Tokyo following a long taxi ride which cost more than 30,000 Yen (it was impossible to bring this heavy trunk on the train) I opened the trunk in my office and began to take an inventory of just what I had. It is incredible to say the least. Spread out on the floor in front of me was the most beautiful assortment of colors, truly remarkable! It appears he only saved $5 and $10 notes. He told me that on every conversion day there were always a few fresh unissued packs in the finance vault that were not destroyed with the other notes, but were listed as so. As these began to accumulate he had a problem in what to do with them, so he just began taking them home and putting them in that cherry wood trunk. That trunk had been in his family for generations and he told me that a century ago his family had been very rich and the trunk had been overflowing with kobans, obans, and the like. After taking an inventory here is what I have: Series 521 $5.00 Packs X 12 (That's 1200 CU Notes!) Series 521 $10.00 Packs X 9 (That's 900 CU Notes!) Series 541 $5.00 Packs X 10 (That's 1000 CU Notes!) Series 541 $10.00 Packs X 8 (That's 800 CU Notes!) Series 591 $5.00 Packs X 13 (That's 1300 CU Notes) Series 591 $10.00 Packs X 18 (That's 1800 CU Notes) Series 611 $10.00 Packs X 23 (That's 2300 CU Notes) Series 611 $5.00 Packs X 18 (That's 1800 CU Notes) As a rough estimate I figure there is $35 million dollars worth of MPC here. And that does not take into account the numerous replacements interspersed throughout (one pack is ALL replacements--Series 591 $10.00!!) After knowing you all these years (and you being the big kahuna of MPC that you are) I need your advice as to how I should dispose of these notes. And in the most fair manner possible. I know you'll come up with something, maybe go into partnership and through you we could disperse all these at top prices over a period of a few years. I wonder if you?d be inclined to take on such a venture? Or, should I just dole these out a couple at a time on eBay and through direct offer, list one or two in the gram, "First Check Gets It" and let the money roll in? Or should I do the honorable thing and let everyone get a shot at a $100.00 a note and have them make their checks out to either the Scholarship Fund or The Old Serviceman's Retired Association? The latter would be a nice touch.................I think. Or would it be better to simply burn them all and let them go up in smoke as they correctly should have on one of those long past C-Days? Please help??????? Sincerely, Mike Dear Mike, I feel your pain. Before the recent discussions in the Gram, I would not have known what to do, but now I know. After studying these notes in detail, you should drill two holes in each note. In that way the value that we have in our current notes will be maintained and still we will have the notes for new collectors. Wait, here is a better idea, drill the notes with one, two, or three holes. This makes three varieties of each so that we will have even more to collect. Editor Dear Editor, I am not one to normally get into a heated discussion but I have been reading about the 691/701 sets .I could not just sit by and not add my 5c worth. Glad to hear the fact that the destruction has stopped for the time being. I think there is so much knowledge that can be accumulated from the two series of notes still in crates and unissued. First of all why punch holes or do anything to deface the notes if they are ever released. If there are 50 sets out there (which I think there are more), why can't all the serial numbers and denominations be accumulated (which would be information that everyone has so in the future if one of these sets is sold on the market, the price would reflect the fact they are one of the 50 sets ). Then if the others are released at least the MPC collectors know what the serial numbers are for the original 50 sets. Anything outside of that is valued accordingly. I'm sorry but I just can't believe that a collector would want to destroy an opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime because: 1. Someone told them a tall tail about the availability of an item, or 2. It will devalue their investment. How many questions have not been answered about all of the previous MPC series? Here we have 2 chances( series 691/701) to answer as many questions as we care to research and the best that can be said is destroy them. Hang in there Fred,there are a few of us out here that would love to see the 691/701 series saved and researched for posterity. H Dear Gram, Please renew my subscription. It seems that either you've stopped publishing or have thinned the subscribers. It has been several weeks since my last gram. Len Dear Len, First, Howard Daniel reported that you were hospitalized and had some miracle procedures (bypasses or something). Welcome home. You subscription is up to date, but AOL has been withholding your Gram. We have been fighting this problem. One suggestion is for you to create another email address at a free site like Yahoo or hotmail then using that for your Gram subscription and possibly for any contraband mail that you might want to hide! We are trying other things too, but we are not certain that we can beat AOL. Editor =========================================== CALENDAR OF EVENTS =========================================== Masstricht April 4-6, Valkenburg, The Netherlands, contact Jos Eijsermans, Box 3240, NL 5930 Tegelen Netherlands May 30 ? June 1 POW Conference II, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA Registration fees: $150 for general registration; $200 after 1 May 2003. (A day fee of $50 per full day, $25 per half day will be accepted at the time of registration as space allows for walk-in registrants to join pre-regs.) $100 for presenters, uni/college students, senior citizens, veterans of any age, overseas participants. (Registrations must be received by 1 May to qualify.)(Presenters coming for one day may attend half of that day free; if they'd like to attend the entire day they will be asked for a $25 contribution to help defray conference costs. [Basically, all presenters and panelists are being given $50 credit.]) $50 for TRACES donors/non-working TRACES board members. $50 for Journalists may attend the exhibit opening, 1-5 Saturday afternoon at the Johnson County History Center in Iowa City/Iowa, for free; those wishing to attend the rest of the conference in order to write articles/tape reports may do so at $25 per day. The exhibit itself is free and open to the public. We are very pleased to have, per plan, some half dozen German POWs or their families with us for the exhibit and conference; as much as we would like to waive the conference registration fee, we must ask that they make a one-time $50 contribution to help defray the unavoidable costs of making this conference a reality. Berlin Study Tour participants may attend for free. Please (!) pass this invitation to anyone you think might be interested in either presenting or attending. For more information about TRACES visit www.TRACES.org. Memphis International Paper Money Show: 13-15 June, Cook Convention Center, 255 N. Main St., Memphis TN 38103-1623 Cancelled----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. 2004 cancelled -- April 23-25, MPCFest V, reservations now being accepted. Reservations entered in order received: Roger Urce#, John Cheney#, David Seelye, Phil Goldstein, Harold Kroll, Gail Baker#, Leo May$$$, Kevin Neidy, Cuneyd Tolek, Warner Talso, Cameron Bueschel, Wendell Wolka, John V. Craig#, Fred Schwan. # new Fester, $ paid. $$ paid single occupancy. Running totals: total 13, new festers 4. Show n tell contact Gail Baker (education@money.org) Arrival and departure coordination: Mark Watson MCW@qnet.com Auction items coordinate: Larry Smulczenski skifla@prodigy.net, Phil Goldstein IWANTMYMPC@aol.com Exhibits contact joeboling@aol.com ======================================== 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 Joel Shafer Mikhail (Misha) Istomin Gary Hicks Robert Drew Tom Warburton Larry Lee Fred Schwan Mark Watson Harold Kroll Ian Marshall Marcus Turner Neil Shafer Keith & Sue Bauman 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 Scholarships from the ANA: See the following location for an application for financial aid to the summer seminar: http://www.money.org/sumsemfin.html =========================================== MPC ANA Museum Project =========================================== ANA collection of MPC: Thanks to donations from Douglas Bell, Dick Fryser, Ed Beaman, David Seelye, Philip Goldstean, Michael Cummings, Ray Czahor, David Pitchford and Mr 691the ANA MPC collection is current as follows: Series 100 - [50 sen], [1Y, 5Y, 10Y, 20Y all A underprint] Series 461 - 5, [10] cents, [$1] Series 471 - [5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $10] Series 472 - [5, 10 cents], [$1, $10] Series 481 - 5 cents, [10, 25 cents], 50 cents, $1, [$5] $10 Series 521 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, [$10] Series 541 - 5, 10, 25 cents Series 591 - [5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1] Series 611 - [5, 10, 25 cents, $1] Series 641 - 5, 10, 25, 50 cents, $1, $5, $10 Series 651 - [$1] Series 661 - [10, 25, 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 =========================================== 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. 611 $5.00................................$1500.00 Postpaid (GEM) 681 $10.00..............................$ 375.00 Postpaid (CH UNC) USA ADDRESS: Michael L. Cummings 2270 Griffin Road #433 Lakeland, FL 33810-5565 FAX: 863-815-4522 JAPAN ADDRESS: Michael L. Cummings Okachimachi Green Heights #603 Taito-ku Ueno 6-1-6 Tokyo, JAPAN 110-0005 TEL: 090-7408-3181 EMAIL: mpccoin@hotmail.com (PAYPAL ACCOUNT) EMAIL2: mpccoin@cameo.plala.or.jp 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 ===== --------------------------------- please respond to this address or to fred@papermoneyworld.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://platinum.yahoo.com