Status:  U
Message-ID: <20010407074349.24344.qmail@web5204.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2001 00:43:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: MPCgram <mpcgram@yahoo.com>
Subject: MPCGram 303
To: MPCGram@yahoo.com
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                         MPC Gram
---------------------------------------------------
  Covering the Entire World of Military Numismatics
----------------------------------------------------
Series 002-Number 303        Saturday, April 7, 2001

              Progression on a Fantasy

By Phil Goldstein

As some of you might know, and others may not,
(although I don't really believe that!) I have an
ongoing love affair with "Nicole,” the young lady on
the 641/651 fractional notes. Sometime during the past
few months, while taking my hiatus from multiple
printings, I decided to attempt to go after any Series
641 fractional notes of interest. 
  However one item, or more correctly, one set of
items set the precedent for this quest. Those of you
who were not at Fest I, may not know the story, so I
will share it here. 
  At Fest I, after it was realized by others that I
was infatuated with Nicole, and also that the 641 10
cent, was my first MPC note owned, Fred brought his
641.10 cent Progressive Proof Set (PPS) to the hotel
"to tease me" (his words). I sat at a small table with
him, in the continental breakfast room, while I
unavoidably and uncontrollably drooled and slobbered
all over it... 
  When I was done, I asked if I may have the honor and
pleasure of committing them to the film in my camera.
He said yes. I went to great lengths at that point, as
anyone there will remember me standing on a chair,
pointing my camera down at the notes on the floor with
someone holding my belt, so I would not fall. (I think
it was Harold or Kevin, I could be wrong - I don't
remember exactly) 
  Fred was looking a bit pale and nervous, if I do
remember correctly, as here was an irreplaceable set
of notes on the floor, my derriere leaning over them
from 7 feet up, ready to crash, and 10-12 pairs of
feet within inches of stepping on the notes. VERY
risky business. Needless to say, no accidents
occurred, and the notes were put safely back into
their respective holders, and into Fred's shirt
pocket. I took it upon myself to ask Fred, what were
they worth? He naturally, did not have a figure off
the top of his head, but we began discussing it. When
an appropriate figure was reached.... I sighed, and
immediately became crestfallen. There was no way in my
mind I could afford this set. 
  Harold was involved in the discussion at this point,
and immediately offered that amount. Fred took
interest, and commenced discussion. However, Kevin had
asked Fred for a price for this set as well, a year or
two before. Fred never did come up with a figure but
Kevin's interest never failed. 
  So to make a long story short, a dilemma surfaced.
Fred, Kevin and Harold had to reach an agreement on
who would get first choice/refusal. That was settled
when Fred traded something else up to Kevin, who in
return gave up first choice on the 641 .10 cent PPS.
Harold mulled his decision over for about 12 hours,
and turned down the set. Kevin, did same for about 3
hours, and also turned it down. They decided to hold
out for something better. (But to me this was the
creme de la creme!) 
After all this concluded, Fred made the announcement
that set was no longer available for purchase. Before
those words finished leaving his mouth, I felt my
heart breaking. Now I would never have a chance to own
it. My mind reeling, I returned my attention to Fred,
who then said in uncertain terms the set would be
mine. He would hold until payment in full, but it was
decided that if anyone should own the set, it should
be me. I was told the reason for this decision was
made because my affection for the set was not based or
motivated on a rare, prestigious holding or delusions
of grandeur (those came later!), but solely because
the denomination was my first note, and I was smitten
with the vignette. I, for a fact, know that another
collector present at Fest I (name withheld on my own
accord) has the Series 641 .05 cent and .50 cent PPS's
and yet he was fundamental in helping Fred reach his
decision to pass the set on to me, at the sacrifice of
not completing his own quest. 
I left Fest I, crunching numbers trying to figure out
HOW I was going to get the set. No matter what I did,
whenever I managed to save a little money, something
numismatic or non-numismatic cropped up that required
money. During the course of the year, the 651
discovery set made itself available, and naturally
bearing the vignette of Nicole, I needed to pursue
that as well. 
Fred offered it to me, I hemmed and hawwed, but
eventually took it, with the condition he would wait a
bit longer for the PPS payment and he agreed. 
Then the 691/701 sets came out. Terrific. Something
else a self-respecting MPC collector can't live
without. Little did I know what I considered a set
back in my pursuit of the PPS would help me achieve
it. I received the standard 691 $1 teaser in the mail,
and was quite honored remembered. 
Then I received another envelope in the mail. No
return address but my 
mailing address was hand written. I zipped it open in
my Post Office, and nearly threw a coronary. Inside
was a set of Series 691 $5, $10 and $20 Fancy Serial
Number notes. Upon further examination, they were
First Printing as well! Then I purchased my Series
691/701 Second Printing sets just like everyone else.
It turns out those sets are very much in demand, and
in reality I was not getting any closer to paying for
the PPS. A decision HAD to made, and NOW... The market
is hot, pressure was on, Fest II was approaching, and
I was in fear of losing the PPS due to Fred and the
possibility of an "offer he couldn't refuse" to the
point of sleeplessness. 
I decided beforehand to part with my 691's and 701's
for the PPS. Priorities had to be placed in order.
Nicole had to come first! As it turned out, Fred was
very receptive to the idea, and so, Fred and I worked
out the details. We agreed that if he could sell my
Series 691s and 701s, we'd be able to work on PPS. He
sold his set and took possession of mine. A little bit
of "reverse pedigree" if you will. Well, he
accomplished his end of trading / selling in the last
week of March. 
We hammered out the last of the details via e-mail,
and I confirmed with him on Monday, April 2, 2001, I
am the new owner of the Series 641 progressive proof
set, with one condition. It was still his in my
collection! No problem Fred! 
I took delivery of the set on the 5th of April. 

Now for the particulars: 
There are actually TWO Progressive Proof Sets, the
other part of a museum exhibit, and to my knowledge
never to be available for sale. These sets were used
to show the different colors used and order of
succession of printing. I think they were also used
for color matching, meaning to accurately mix the
batches of ink for the regular printing run and to
match the required tint. 
  There are eight notes in this set: five of the front
and three of the back. All the notes are uniface
(printed on one side only). 

The face notes consist of: 

1) Light Aqua Underprint 
2) Light Blue Underprint 
3) Burgandy Underprint / Corner Numerals 
4) Green Main Design , Legend and Vignette of Note 
5) Completed Face of Note - All Colors in Register 

The backs consist of: 

6) Burgandy Underprint 
7) Green Main Design, Denominaton, Vignette and
Regulation Legend 
8) Completed Back of Note - All Colors in Register 
There is an ninth note, the specimen note, with
completed printings face and back with the serial
number J00000000J. This note was separated very early
from the set, and I am currently looking for it to
reunite it with the others. If you know the
whereabouts of this note, I sincerely ask you contact
me at: IWANTMYMPC@aol.com 
  Even if it not available for sale, I would like to
know where it is for future reference. All knowledge
forwarded will be held in the strictest confidence. 
In conclusion, I have been asking myself over and over
again, if I did the right thing giving up my Series
691's and 701's for the PPS.... I'm still a little
disappointed in having to give the notes up, as I
would have rather raised the cash, but I keep telling
myself - there are a lot more of the 691s and701s out
there, then there progressive proof sets.. Do you
think I made the right choice? I'd like to know.

====================================================
                        Editorial
----------------------------------------------------
When Phil was able to such that progressive proof set
out of me, I made it a condition that he would write
an article about it. I did not expect that he would
name names the way that he did, but my hands are tied,
I had to run it because it is a great story.
===================================================
                       Mail Call
Dear Gram,
I tried to explain to my family at Sunday dinner about
the April fools story 
in the MPCgram and after I got done my one niece asked
what was MPC. I give 
up!. Does this mean I have to return for Fest III in
order to have people 
understand my conversation? Gary Lee (Are there any
4's out there) 

Hicks 

Dear Gramster,
I feel your pain.

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 3/22/01.

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, Mel and Jeremy Steinberg,
Marcus Turner, Larry Ski, Guido, Fred, PK6, Joel
Shafer, World Wide Ventures, Pam West, John and Nancy
Wilson, Neil Shafer, W. E. Yanchick, Mark Watson, Al
Glaser, Phil Goldstein, Rod Hardy, Wesley Hardy, Gary
Hicks, Jack Lippincott, Ian Marshall, Kevin Maloy,
David SeelyeNick Schrier, Elmer Smith, Dan Swartz, Tom
Warburton, Dick Freyser, Tim Kyzivat
====================================================
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. 

Nicole for sale! MPC Series 641 5¢ ten consecutive Gem
Unc notes, $75. Contact fred@papermoneyworld.com.

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.
===================================================
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 and 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.

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