VJ Day--80th anniversary
from Bill Myers
VJ Day is of course one of those momentous days that is tied to our wonderful hobby. As such numismatic souvenirs of the event are great items to collect in their own right.
Editorial
We have not had a Gram since June. June sixth--D-Day--to be precise. This interlude might be the longest break ever in the history of Gram publication. I am sorry. The editorial in that Gram was a limp excuse on why there had been such a lag leading into D-Day. I am sorry about that too.
I wish that I could say that all of the problems had been resolved, but they have not. I am sorry about that too, I can report that the medical situation with The Boss have improved substantially which gives me hope that I might be able to at least work on the other problems.
Thank you for your patience throughout the difficulties. Subscribers have been quite gentle with me!
I am thrilled to be typing at Mail Chimp at the library. That fact alone gives me confidence that I will be able to send a Gram in a day or two. The next step is to locate and download editorial material and letters that have come in during this time. I am apprehensive about that, but I have some ideas for work arounds. The bottom line is that I hope that when you receive this Gram that you will again feel confident to send us some news, views, and information about military numismatics.
Judy and I could not attend the Oklahoma City ANA convention because of the aforementioned medical problems. We had not missed a convention in at least 35 years and I think that it is only the second one what I have missed in something like 50 years! The good news about that is that reports about the convention are still news for the Gram!
Mail Call
The MPCGram welcomes letters from readers. Letters should be relevant to military numismatics. Letters may be edited. Senders must be known to the Gram and names (actual or "Internet") will be used.
Dear Editor,
I went through a coin show and they had a bunch of medals, and a couple were from "Colorado." One was from 1940 National Matches at Camp Perry. Nothing about WW 2.
I saw Joe at the Summer Seminar. That's one of the first thing I've done since my stroke, Summer Seminar. I can't go With a trip other with somebody else. I mean, I was fine by myself at Summer Seminar, But my daughter brought me to Colorado Springs and then back home.
Sparky
Dear Sparky,
I am delighted that you are getting around better. there might be a Fest in your future!!
Thank you for the great report! I love your item! In addition to being a local/Camp Perry item, I would like to introduce a discussion about what to call your item. Commonly items like this are called medals, but I think that badge is a good term to differentiate from art medals, award medals (military and otherwise (think Olympic champions)).
Editor
Dear Editor
Someone gave me some scans of some pages of The Illustrated London News. A Malaya $5 JIM note is pictured in the 3FEB42 issue of The Illustrated London News on pg 175. Needless to say it caught my eye. It has been less than 2 months since the invasion of Malaya and an image of a Malaya JIM note has appeared in a London newspaper. The note has block letters and a serial number instead of just block letters, which is not a surprise as it was early in the occupation of Malaya. It was surprising to see the block B notes being released this early in the occupation. It is possible that so many notes needed to be replaced that all 1 million block A notes were used so that B block notes were issued. It is also possible that Malaya block A and B notes were issued simultaneously in different areas. I find it interesting to find contemporary stories about our hobby.
Myers.
Training Schedule (calendar)
2025
In this section, the MPGram lists events that are likely to be of special interest to collectors who are interested in MPC and other type of military numismatic items. We do not list "routine" coin shows where a collector might find a few items by chance. However, if we know that some Festers or Gramsters will be there we will list that same show in the hope of promoting fellowship. Send us your reports.
2025 shows/events
Michigan State Numismatic Society MSNS Nov
2026 shows
ANA National Money Show®
Religious holidays (Easter +) –
MPCFest 2026 24-26 April
MSNS – April 19-21 – Warren, MI Festers attending
Georgia Numismatic Show – Festers attending
CSNS – Apr. 29-May 6 – Schaumberg, IL Festers attending
Maastricht –
ANA World's Fair of Money® -
Please help us fill in the dates for events listed and give us any additional events that might conflict. Thank you very much.
MPCFest sponsors
Joe and Louise Boling, Mike Buckley, Steve Fahrlander, Steve and Ray Feller, Dave Frank, Loretta Freyser, Al Glaser, Harold Kroll, Bill Myers and Warner Talso.
MPCFest is possible because of the generous support of its sponsors:
Gram Exchange
Do you have something for sale (or trade)? Are you looking for something for your collection? You can offer items here in the Gram or list specific items that you need.
FOR SALE
Send your text and images (!) to the editor for inclusion in the Gram Exchange. Please send the images in jpeg format with each image in a separate file.
List your items for sale here for FREE
Fifth edition of the standard MPC reference book the Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates by Schwan and Smulczenski. Now full color and packed with great information. $75 postpaid. No waiting--the fastest service possible. Send your snail mail address via email and we will send your book with an invoice. The digital version of Comprehensive Catalog of Military Payment Certificates after some delay is now shipping at $40. Send to fredschwan@yahoo.com.
WANTED
Wanted to Buy [WTB] / In Search of [ISO] $10 Series 1934A North Africa silver certificate with the altered blue seal discussed in October 2022 MPCGram by Larry Smulczenski (Saturski #13) and covered in May/June 2008 SPMC article written by Peter Huntoon and Jim Downey. Please contact Andy Conroy (andyqconroy@gmail.com)