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 tdb74k.sae.37kbi1v for ; Thu, 12 Apr 2001 08:16:20 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010412121619.4614.qmail@web5203.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [205.188.192.173] by web5203.mail.yahoo.com; Thu, 12 Apr 2001 05:16:19 PDT Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 05:16:19 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 308 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 308 Thurksi, April 12, 2001 Maastricht Report One By Larry “Ski” Smulczenski Well, the trip to the Maastricht Paper Money Bourse was everything that people said it was going to be and then some. "ltc" Dave Amey and I flew over together and then met up with Marcus Turner and Harold Kroll in Frankfurt. Dave and I flew out of Atlanta on Monday and had a couple of days to get over jet lag before Marcus and Harold got there Wednesday morning. The weather in Frankfurt was a very pleasant mid-60s with occasional rain showers. Dave rented a car and we drove around Frankfurt looking for coin shops, but being strangers in a large city, we struck out. That evening we had dinner in a little town about 5 clicks from the Rhein-Main Air Base named Schwanheim. What's the chance of traveling halfway around the world and still not being able to get away from that Schwan guy? Dave and I had to buy one of those little portable cameras to take some pictures to show that the Germans really did name a town after Fred. We will scan some of those pictures and include them in the gram as soon as they get developed. Dave left me the next morning to drive up to the show. By the way, although we talk of the Maastricht Show, it is actually held in the town of Valkenburg, about 10 clicks away from Maastricht. Valkenburg is close to both the German and Belgium borders. I spent Tuesday on Rhein-Main Air Base trying to get some of the gasoline coupons that are still used in Germany and other parts of Europe or some checks from the Community Bank. I struck out on both attempts. Since I was not stationed there, I could not buy any of the coupons. I approached a couple of young GI's to buy some coupons from them, but I think they thought I was some kind of security agent and this was some type of sting as none of them would have anything to do with me. It was the same story in the bank. I tried to get a starter book of checks from a clerk, but she called her manager and they just couldn't figure out why I would want them for a collection. I figured I better quit before they called the Air cops and I ended up in the brig. Harold and Marcus flew in bright and early Wednesday morning along with Dave Seelye. Dave drove up to Valkenburg and we went to the Deutsche Bundesbank where we had an early afternoon appointment. Mark Hartford of St. Louis who was touring Europe met us at the bank. Unfortunately, the curator of the bank museum quit recently and we were not able to get into the bank archives were their treasures were stored. Our host was very knowledgeable on German coinage, but admitted that paper money was not his specialty. He and Harold carried on quite a conversation on coins of the Third Reich, but we didn't get many answers about paper money. I wanted to know about why some of the Special Army Currency notes of 1948 used in Berlin were stamped with a circle "B" while others were perforated with a "B" while still others had both. He said that that was a great question that they had also asked and no one knew the answer. So we still don't have an answer to that question. He was interested in the Series 691 and 701 MPC and we talked at length about these two new series. We then toured the museum which contained coins and banknotes on display. Probably the most interesting displays had to do with the manufacture of the security devices on the current series of banknotes. Hands-on displays showed the ultra-violet features, the application of optical variable devices and several other features. A display of printed full sheets showed the border devices which were spectacular. Like our BEP, the Bank was selling full sheets of the 10DM note. These came in a six by nine sheet of 54 notes with all the margin inscriptions. Marcus and Harold had to each buy one of the sheets to bring home. This was probably not a bad purchase because by the next Maastricht show, Germany will be on the Euro and there will not be any DM notes. We left the bank at around 4 PM and caught the train for Maastricht. Four train changes and six hours later, we arrived in Maastricht, where we caught a cab to Valkenburg. You can believe that I had two tired puppies on my hands when we arrived at the hotel. After a good nights sleep, we awoke to find that buying, selling and trading of banknotes had been going on at the hotel since Tuesday. At breakfast I was told that there was a note on the floor that I just had to have, but I will save that for the next column. ==================================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- Well, well, well, it seems that Larry (and David) have found a place for the Fest that I would like as much as Port Clinton! The first European MPC Fest really MUST be in Schwanheim! =================================================== Mail Call Dear Gram, I really appreciate the article [on storing a collection by Boling]. I am new at this and have been fussing over how to handle my notes. Local coin store owners either don't have anything to suggest or act like their first priority is to sell a product. Anyway, I now have a much clearer understanding of my options and what to expect. Thanks to you and Mr. Boling, Warner Talso Dear Warner, Well, we are certainly pleased to help! Sometimes we old timers cannot see the forest, so if there are other specific questions or ideas or even just general areas that you would like to see discussed in the Gram, please write! Of course that goes for everyone! Editor Dear Editor, I read your editorial and just had to laugh. I feel bad hearing you are getting criticized for your seemingly lack of responsibility. Having some my emails to you go unanswered and your misplacement of material, I can relate to whomever wrote you that letter. These shortcomings, annoying as they may be, are hardly catastrophic. Especially in view of the work you have done. I have read many of the books you have authored, and can see your mind is focused on matters of importance. The composer of the letter should wonder where he would be without your literary works, or better still, the gram. Glad to hear you are trying to better yourself. Who knows, maybe you will eventually locate my 611/5c. Talk to you later. ...James Dear James, Your note is in the mail, but I goofed up the invoicing, drat. 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. Many donations were received at CPMX and MPCFest. 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 Seelye, Nick 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. FOR SALE For Sale: One Pound Australian Currency, Fanning Island Plantations, LTD (SB#1541 pg 216). This is the whole note! VF Condition. Satisfaction guaranteed. Scan available upon request. $450. Contact marcus@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 & 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!? 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