Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web5203.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.97]) by osgood.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id t9a5go.s8c.30ahi43 for ; Thu, 22 Feb 2001 08:37:28 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <20010222133726.21122.qmail@web5203.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [152.163.206.184] by web5203.mail.yahoo.com; Thu, 22 Feb 2001 05:37:26 PST Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 05:37:26 -0800 (PST) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 262 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 262 Thurski 22 February 2001 First European Weighs in for Scholarship Fund The breadth of donors to the WWII scholarship fund increased dramatically with the receipt of a generous donation from Italy. Guido Crapanzano of Milano and current president of the International Bank Note Society made the donation. Of course the scholarship total went up nicely too with the generous donation and the news gets better! Because this was a cash donation, it is effectively tripled by matching donations received earlier! The European donation raises the idea of scholarship recipients from Europe (or elsewhere). Obviously, transportation from such distances will likely be more expensive, but the scholarship nonetheless might still make it possible for someone to attend who otherwise could not have. Fester on the Road! by Larry "Ski" Smulczenski By the time you read this, I will already have left home and will be on my way to the Fest via a very circuitous route. I want to claim the title of being the earliest departure for Fest II. My plans are visit my son and his family in St Louis for a couple of days before meeting up with Leo May and heading up to CPMX (Chicago Paper Money Expo). That takes place the first weekend of March. Should be some interesting things going on there and we will try to keep you all apprised of the great finds that occur. Leo and I will then try to find our way to Port Clinton for the Fest on the following weekend. Many of you will remember my story of how Leo and I left Chicago last year, got so engrossed in talking about notes that we took the wrong highway and headed north into Michigan instead of proceeding east toward Ohio. Hopefully we will do better this year, but I know that with the many flea markets and antique shops that line the highway between Chicago and Toledo, we will find some reason to make a number of stops. I do want to publicly thank the number of Gram readers who sent data from their Philippine notes. I still haven't been able to break the code (relationship between the serial number and the plate position letter) on the replacement notes nor the more scarce signature combinations, but maybe with the help of some folks up at Chicago or at the Fest, we may be able to figure it out. Also want to thank Mr. Doric and Fred Reed for their inputs about the Boise paper cent. The deal that Mr. D offers is extremely generous. I undoubtedly overstated the scarcity of these items as these two gentlemen either own or knew of quite a few more of the paper tokens than I've ever seen, but I still think it is a super item for your collection. I am going to conclude this column, by quoting a small article that was sent me by Robin Ellis. Robin is good friend from San Antonio. Robin is a collector, but not of MPC or World War II money. At one time he collected $1 bills by Federal Districts but that collection was stolen during a break in of his apartment. He then formed a fabulous collection of ephemera from Medal of Honor winners including autographs of those that survived. He is now chasing photographs of every aircraft or prototype that he can put his hands on. However, I believe that his greatest thrill is uncovering some obscure article in the library and mailing it to his many friends who might have an interest in it. I have four note books of articles that Robin has found, copied and sent to me. Here is one, that is not World War II related, but we have all seen these notes and wondered what was the story behind them. The article is not attributed to any publication but is entitled, "His money was for the birds.” In May of 1982, the undeclared war in the Falklands dominated the British press. Each agonizing step was broadcast, televised and headlined. Each island, town, port, and hamlet and settlement was mentioned by name--save one, the Jason Islands group. The Jason Islands are an archipelago stretching northwest from West Falkland. Perhaps the fact that all inhabitants but a caretaker were penguins and albatrosses contributed to the omission. It was not the Argentine invasion of the Falklands, but the death of Leonard W. Hill, that brought the dream of Jason Island's currency to an end. The islands are a bird sanctuary. The money was "issued" to raise funds for the property. Leonard Hill, known as the "Penguin Millionaire,” was the director of the Birdland Zoo Gardens, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire. A member of the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland, Hill bought Grand and Steeple Islands in the Jason group in 1970 to found a bird sanctuary. To help underwrite the $11,000 costs for the islands, Hill issued his own "money" and "postage stamps.” The sale to collectors helped maintain the wildlife refuge. Unfortunately, Hill died suddenly in December 1981 having just returned from the Falklands. Hill claimed his money to be legal tender on the Jasons and since no one lived there, the validity of the currency was never challenged. His notes were issued in denominations of fifty pence, one-, five-, ten- and twenty-pounds. Though the sizes and colors changed with the values, the format remained the same: a portrait of Hill to the right and a different penguin to the left--Humboldt, Jackass, Rockhopper, Gentoo, or King, depending upon the denomination. For the Conservation Year of 1970, Hill also issued a two-shilling postage stamp. Since neither penguins nor albatrosses write, no canceled version of the stamp exists. As Paul Harvey says, "Now you know the rest of the story." ==================================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- I had a chat yesterday with a fellow who I thought was a good candidate for the ANA WWII Seminar. He was offended because he thought that my comments meant that I put him in the category of beginner. First let me say that we are all beginners at this WWII numismatics stuff. We all learn every day. It is humbling. It is hard to figure out exactly how to describe the seminar. Certainly beginners are welcome and in many ways it is for beginner. It is also for advanced and intermediate collectors too. For one thing, the seminar will be tailored to the experience and interests of students. (I do not like the term students in this case but seminarsters certainly does not work, we will have to work on that.) I am sure that Joe and I will learn a lot from the seminar, some from the fellow students and some from the process itself. Possibly this will help put it in perspective. Larry "Ski" Smulczenski who it generally not considered to be a beginner is considering attending the seminar. (Since he told me that, we are working on making him a "special guest" instructor, but the semantics hardly make a difference. I hope to see every single Gramster there! Heck, I did not think of this. I should have hit him up for a big donation for the scholarship fund. =================================================== Mail Call --------------------------------------------------- Dear Editor, I have been thinking about working titles for my presentation at the MPC Fest. My only problem is that my working titles are a little too long. Let me know what you think: DEAR PENTHOUSE: I’m an MPC collector from a small Midwestern community, and I NEVER though that something like this could happen to me… Or how about… AMAZING MPC DISCOVERIES that will make your sox go up and down. Can you fit either of these two titles into the agenda? Marcus Dear Editor, I always enjoy Joe B and Skis columns, but they both had particularly good pieces the last time out. I think that you should double what you are paying them. While you are at it, you probably should double your compensation too. Shotgun Dear Mike and Editor, Now that you mention it, yes, he was navy--which is why he called his counterfeit collection the monster locker (locker being a navy term). Yes, I remember his lovely house furnishings, but I don't remember seeing the piece that he used as a logo. I always wondered just what that was. He, Bill Churchwell, and someone else who I can't think of now all lost their Japanese war brides to cancer. I thought it was an interesting phenomenon. Did you know Sandy's friend Harry Watters? Joe Dear Joe (and Mike), I was not going to publish this latest commentary on Sandy, but when you mentioned Bill Churchwell, I just had too. I had not thought of him in years and years (decades actually). I am not sure in what capacity Bill worked in Japan but he was a civilian employee of the military in the 1970s. In about 1975 he sent me a letter listing the MPC that he had available for trade. Buried in the long list was a 471 $5 listed as CU. Heck, I had never seen a 471 $5 at that time! To say that I wanted it is mild. Ultimately I bought a proof 20 cent piece (1877, proof only year mintage 600) to trade him for that note. When it arrived I was afraid that there may have been some terrible mistake. There was not. It was not unc, but it was beautiful. It is still in my collection. Met Bill only once. It was at the Atlanta ANA convention. Do not know what year that was but Joe will probably tell us. That was the convention where the forth and fifth series BAFSVs came to light. That is obviously another story. Fred =================================================== 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 2/21/01. 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 Guido 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 Gary Hicks Harold Kroll Jack Lippincott Ian Marshall Larry Smulczenski Bill McNease 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 Dick Freyser (We are well past last year's participation level. We have doubled that level. Can we triple it, more? 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 Holiday Inn Express, 50 NE Catawba Road, Port Clinton, OH 43452 Friday March 9 1500-1900 Arrivals at headquarters, registration 1900-2030 no host dinner Chinese take out at service club 2030-2300 bull session in day room 2200 MPC chat, day room (Wiz) 2400 lights out Saturday 0400-0530 physical training, 10k run, 2k swim (depending on ice), optional (first sergeant) 0730-0845 breakfast at dining facility 0900-1000 equipment issue (supply sergeant) 1000-1100 pay operations, orderly room (pay master) 1100-1230 show and tell, session I, day room 1230-1330 catered lunch (Submarine sandwich) 1330-1800 swap session (dealer surcharge, TBD) 1800-1930 spaghetti dinner (mess sergeant) 1930-2030 award ceremony, secret operations 2000-2345 commemorative poker game in day room 2200 MPC chat (simultaneous with poker game, Wiz) 2400 lights out Sunday 0400-0530 physical training, 10k run, 2k swim (depending on ice), optional, (first sergeant) 0830-0900 breakfast at Service Club 0900-1000 research updates 1000-1230 show and tell 1230-1330 pizza at Service Club 1300-1500 field trip to WWII POW camp 1530 closing ceremonies Monday (optional, weather permitting) 0600-0630 breakfast at NCO Club 0700-1400 Walleye fishing trip, optional Remarks: registration is $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 Holiday Inn Express is located at 50 NE Catawba Road, 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 692 5 cent replacement in vf/xf. serial E00450773. 110.00. contact Tom at kochfam@gte.net 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: a 481 $5.00 in Fine or better. =================================================== 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!? Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices! http://auctions.yahoo.com/