Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web5203.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.97]) by tyner.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id t8njtb.d58.37kbi5q for ; Thu, 15 Feb 2001 07:46:35 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <20010215124634.3359.qmail@web5203.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [205.188.197.156] by web5203.mail.yahoo.com; Thu, 15 Feb 2001 04:46:34 PST Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 04:46:34 -0800 (PST) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 255 To: mpcgram@yahoo.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii ==================================================== MPC Gram ==================================================== Covering the Entire World of Military Numismatics ---------------------------------------------------- Series 002-Number 255 Thurski 15 February 2001 An Unusual WWII Item by Larry "Ski" Smulczenski World War II brought many shortages upon this great nation and resulted in rationing of many commodities. Most folks are familiar with gas and food rationing, but few, other than coin collectors remember that the war resulted in a coin shortage especially a cent shortage. Copper was essential to the war effort, therefore the composition of the cent was changed by the Mint to a zinc coated steel cent. Since this proved inadequate, the following year the cent was manufactured from salvaged shell cases. However, even before the government proposed these fixes, cent shortages sprang up across the country. One organization, in particular, the Retail Merchants Bureau of Boise, Idaho tried to fix the problem by issuing one inch square paper cents. We don't know the exact issue date of the paper cent but it has to be in 1942 or at the latest, early 1943 as there is a "Redeemable before JUNE 1st 1943" clause in the lower left corner. Across the top is the wording "Value One Cent." In the lower right corner the issuer is identified as the Retail Merchants Bureau and the printer as Beacon Litho Co. The central design is a large "V" with a minuteman standing in the center of the "V." The left arm of the "V" is thicker and contains four stars. Boise and Idaho are printed one on either side of the "V." This paper cent is printed in blue ink on white card stock. You can see a picture of this Boise paper token on page 426 of your World War II Remembered. Indications are that all merchants including banks in the Boise area accepted and used the paper cents. The Merchants Bureau placed money in escrow with local banks to redeem the paper cents at the end of the war. It appears that they underestimated the strength of the Axis powers when they printed on the paper token that they would be redeemed before June 1, 1943, which indicates that the Merchants Bureau felt the war would end by that date. When Washington officials found out about the paper cent, the Secretary of Treasury wrote the Boise Merchants Bureau that they were in violation of federal law by issuing the paper cent and that they could be prosecuted. The merchants stood their ground and notified the Treasury Department, that the paper cents would be redeemed in the future and that they intended to keep issuing the paper cent until Washington adequately supplied them with enough coins to meet their needs. Nothing further was heard from Washington. Over one million of these paper cent tokens were printed and issued. When the crises ended and enough coin was made available to meet business needs, a recall of the paper cent was issued. Amazingly, very few of the paper cents were submitted for redemption. It was estimated that less than one of every 1000 issued tokens was redeemed. If these numbers are correct, what happened to those hundreds of thousands of paper cents. How many of them have you seen. In the last 10 years that I have been aware of this item, I haven't seen more than a dozen of them and all have been in collections. I don't remember a dealer ever having one on his sales list or having one in his case at a show. World War II Remembered prices this neat little item at $4.00. Try to buy one at that price or even at a couple of times that price. I think you can safely call this the only known example of United States notgeld. ==================================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTICE Today is the last day to register for the Fest at the incredibly low rate of $139. After today the rate goes up $25. Email your reservation now. You can send the payment later, but you must get that reservation in now to lock in that rate! Frankly, the extra $25 is needed, but we cannot resist the editorial desire to urge you to act NOW! =================================================== Mail Call --------------------------------------------------- Dear Editor, I think that the MPC Gram is exceptionally well done and thanks for sending it. I have one quick question - which service are you using to bulk ship the MPC Gram. I started to write a Internet Newsletter and need an efficient way of mailing to a large number of readers. Thanks and Regards, David Cannon Wow David, Flattery will get you most everything you want. MPCGram is simply sent out as Yahoo mail. It had several advantages that we liked, but it is far from perfect. Biggest of all, we liked the way that blind copies are sent so that everyone does not have to scroll through the list of subscribers which also does something for privacy at the same time. However, each list is limited to 100 names so now we must send each gram to three lists. While this is a little extra work, we hope to have to send it to 10 lists soon! There is a nice auto response feature that can be used for many things. My biggest wish is for the ability to schedule a time for an automailing so that we could have the gram at the same time each day. We will be happy to discuss it more and will be very interested in what you figure out. Please put the gram on your list for your newsletter! Editor Dear Sir, I have an interest in MPC can you help? Thanks, Lionel Dear Lionel, I am sorry. There is very little that can be done about this. It is a serious addiction. Possibly you will feel better when you learn that many people have this disease. There is a support group for this poor people. It has a news letter. I will send it to you. Hopefully, with the help of the group you can manage your problem (and complete your collection too!). Welcome. Editor =================================================== Departments --------------------------------------------------- WWII numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar 2001 --------------------------------------------------- Not only does the scholarship fund have an official identity but also has a bank account! Any further donations should be paid to the order of "Military Numismatists Scholarship" and sent to: Military Numismatists c/o Marcus Turner 8103 East US Highway 36 Suite 163 Avon, IN 46123 THE UPDATED LIST OF SCHOLARSHIP BENEFACTORS 2/12/01. These folks have generously provided money or material to finance scholarships to the ANA WWII Numismatics seminar. Your contributions will help promote collecting WWII material and be greatly appreciated. Mr. Anonymous Donor Mike Cummings Sue and Keith Bauman Ed B. Doug Bell Tom Denly, Denly's R. A. Medina Harold MPCKid Kroll Leo "Paymaster" May Mrs. R.C. Matherne Bill McNease Marcus Turner Larry Ski Fred PK6 Joel Shafer World Wide Ventures John & Nancy Wilson Neil Shafer W. E. Yanchick ----------------------------------------------------- MPC Fest II ----------------------------------------------------- MPC Fest is the annual feast of MPC. After some difficulties of coordination we have not changed the dates and tentatively scheduled 9-11 March 2001 for MPC Fest II. Confirmed participants in MPC Fest II Doug Bell Sam Feeback$$ Al Glaser$$ Phil Goldstein Rod Hardy$ Wesley Hardy$ Harold Kroll Jack Lippincott$$ Ian Marshall Larry Smulczenski Bill McNease$$ (PayPal works!) Leo May Kevin Maloy$$ Marv Mericle$ Bruce Potter$$ David Seelye$$ Nick Schrier$$ Fred Schwan?? Dan Swartz$$ Warner Talso (and Jane)$ Marcus Turner$ Tom Warburton William E Yanchick$ (We are well past last year's participation level. We will certainly double that level. Can we triple it, more? Symbols after the name: $=deposit paid, $$-paid in full) If you have made a reservation and your name does not appear above, please contact the gram immediately (MPCgram@yahoo.com). PayPal and PayDirect are available, the associated email address is fred@papermoneyworld.com. It works great. We love it. Tentative schedule as of 15 February 2001 Friday March 9 1500-1900 Arrivals at Comfort Inn 1900-2030 no host dinner at Cisco and Charlies 2030-2300 bull session at Comfort Inn 2400 lights out Saturday breakfast at Comfort Inn 0730-0845 breakfast at Service Club 0900-1000 equipment issue (supply sergeant) 1000-1100 pay operations (pay master) 1100-1230 show and tell, session I 1230-1330 pizza party at Service Club (mess sergeant) 1330-1800 swap session (dealer surcharge, TBD) 1800-1930 spaghetti dinner at Service Club (mess sergeant) 1930-2030 secret operations 2000-2345 commemorative poker game at Comfort Inn 2200 MPC chat (simultaneous with poker game) 2400 lights out Sunday 0830-0900 breakfast at Service Club 0900-1000 research updates 1000-1230 show and tell 1230-1330 lunch at Service Club 1300-1500 field trip to WWII POW camp 1530 closing ceremonies Monday (optional, weather permitting) 0600-0630 breakfast at Service Club 0700-1400 Walleye fishing trip Remarks: registration is $139 per person (for reservations after February 15 $164, after March 1, $189). This includes two nights lodging (double occupancy, room assignments by first sergeant the only possible exception is married couples), Meals as indicated (Friday evening not included), equipment and amenities. The value of souvenirs and goodies distributed will likely exceed the cost of the entire Fest. Reservations accepted now at MPCGram@yahoo.com, deposits ($50 minimum) accepted at MPC Fest, 132 East Second Street, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. Confirmed reservations will be listed daily in the gram—make your reservations now! Additional information; the Comfort Inn is located at 1723 East Perry Street, Port Clinton, Oh 43452, you may use one of the online map services to get exact driving directions. DO NOT make your own reservations or inquiries. The best airports in order of distance are Toledo (45 mins), Cleveland (90 mins), Detroit (100 mins). We will try to coordinate ground transportation, but there are no guarantees here. Questions: send your questions to MPCgram@yahoo.com. In most cases the questions will be answered in the letters section of the gram. After all, if you have the question, someone else probably does too. ==================================================== Post/Base Exchange (PX/BX/NEX) Dump your dupes! Your classified advertisement for items for sale 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. Send in a list of items for sale and we will list them here in the gram. In all cases confirm your order via email first. FOR SALE MPC Series 641 50c CU $21, David Seelye, email for confirmation coinman@rochester.rr.com. US military chits: NCO & EM Open Mess/Cam Ranh Bay 96312 $10 booklet covers with one each 5, 10, 25 (canceled) chits, $35, email for confirmation iam@total.net WANTED 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. This is a trial, if you like it, send your list. Wanted by a collector: U.S. Bonds, checks, warrants etc.( U.S. Treasury obligations )? They could be from the Philippines or P.R. or Post Office items. Almost anything with a Federal connection. =================================================== Staff: publisher and editor: Fred Schwan - fred@papermoneyworld.com; assistant editor - Phil Goldstein IWANTMYMPC@aol.com critic: Harold Kroll - MPCKid@papermoneyworld.com; index manager: Ed Beaman webmaster & technical advisor: Doug Bell - (Wiz): doug@papermoneyworld.com; 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!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/