Smulczenski Scholarship Auction
Fest auctioneer Dave Frank (dave@frankcomputers) is accepting material for the 2025 Smulczenski Scholarship auction. Gramsters are invited to donate material that will be sold in the auction on Sunday morning. Proceeds from the sale of these items will go to paying for scholarships to the military numismatics classes at the American Numismatic Association summer seminar.
These classes are held in the even years in Colorado Springs. The scholarship program has sent more than forty students to the seminar!
The auction also accepts military numismatic material for sale that is rare or of particular interest to Festers.
Counterfeit Detection Training at Fest
Fest headquarters is proud to announce that Joe Boling will again offer training on security printing technologies and counterfeit paper detection at MPCFest 26! Boling is the foremost authority on the subject. The class will be held on Sunday evening after formal Fest activities have ended. The training will be held in the Camp Leo May room. The training is FREE but reservations are necessary. Contact Joe directly at joeboling@aol.com to reserve your spot.
Joe Boling at FUN mini Fest
World War II Brazil
by Bill Myers
Brazil was the South American country most involved in supporting World War II. On 28 January 1943 President Vargas and Roosevelt met and agreed on measures for deployment of a contingent of Brazilian troops. General J B Mascarenhas organized and trained the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (BEF) as well as led it in Europe where it participated in the Italian campaign in 1944 and 1945 and lost 948 troops. The Brazil Air Force also deployed to Italy and performed with distinction. The BEF consisted of 25,700 troops.
The insignia of BEF is a snake smoking a pipe which seems to be an odd choice. In Brazil the statement "when the snake will smoke" (has the same meaning as "when pigs fly") was what was being said, in 1943, about the chances of the BEF fighting on the war front. As a result, the BEF troops called themselves Cobras Fumantes (smoking snakes) so the insignia makes sense.
Brazil was first introduced to collectors as an important World War II Ally in World War II Remembered.
In 1945 Brazil released a series of stamps upon the return of the Brazil Expeditionary Force. I recently purchased an envelope created by the Brazilian Philatelic Club that states "To the glorious expeditionaries" and has the canceled version of the stamps and the insignia on the BEP.
Operation Bernhard
The Counterfeits of Block 19
History's biggest counterfeiting swindle
of Stefano Poddi
The second edition of the book on Operation Bernhard, written by Stefano Poddi, has recently been published.
This edition is in English, making it accessible to a broader audience, likely more emotionally engaged in this historical-numismatic event.
The second edition includes a preface by Joseph E. Boling, one of the world's leading paper money experts and a keen scholar of this specific historical episode. He also oversaw the editorial revision of the text.
Compared to the first Italian edition, this edition has been completely updated: the text has been revised and improved, the photos have been enlarged, and diagrams have been added to better illustrate the circulation of counterfeit British pounds worldwide. Additionally, an index of photographs has been included, along with an updated list of all recovered banknote series and serial numbers to date.
The book also features the full transcript of the author's 2007 interview with one of the last witnesses of this event, Adolf Burger.
The book provides a detailed analysis of the operation, immersing the reader in the atmosphere of those years an essential exercise to ensure that such events never happen again. The meticulous narrative, based solely on verified facts from primary sources, the careful choice of words, and the rich collection of photographs, diagrams, indices, bibliography, and appendices make this book a key reference for future generations of numismatists and contemporary history scholars interested in further exploring and investigating this fascinating case.
For those interested in purchasing the book, please contact Fabrizio Raponi at runfab@gmail.com.
Editorial
MPCFest 2025 seems like it is upon us, and certainly, there is much to do. Ray and Steve are assembling a great slate of presentations (at the Fest, we call them staff briefings), and Dave Frank is putting together another great scholarship auction. Jim Downey and Bill Myers are also refining the questions for March Madness. I can tell you that there will be some surprises too. I hope that you can attend, but if you cannot, there are still some ways that you can participate. You can give some items to the scholarship auction and or you can send in some bids.
If you cannot come for the entire weekend, you might be able to attend the bourse on Friday. In the past collectors have come from several states away to participate in this unique event. I look forward to finding some things for my collection and possibly selling some duplicates too (contact bourse chairman Roger Urce if you would like one of our inexpensive bourse tables).
We have never had anyone play in the poker game on Saturday night or attend Joe's counterfeit training who was not also a Fester, but I suppose that those are possibilities. I am sure that I will think of some more ways after sending this Gram. If you can think of other ways to participate, send us an email. Of course you can send mail on other subjects too.
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 "fictional") will be used.
Dear Editor,
Please list the information on reserving a bourse table and participation in the auction in the next couple of Grams.
Festers who would like to participate in the Friday bourse can reserve a table by contacting me at stjasele@gmail.com.
Festers who would like to participate in the auction, either by making donations or listing lots for sale, should contact Dave Frank at dave@frankscomputers.com.
— Roger Urce
Dear Editor,
I am delighted to hear that the BOSS is making progress after her back surgery. It is never easy when the leader goes down...
I spoke with Kim a few minutes ago, and have a room reserved for this year's fest. It will be my first "in person" Fest.
Looking forward to it. I plan on arriving Thursday evening and then departing Sunday.
Cheers!
— Jeff "Buster" Daniher
Training Schedule (calendar)
2025
ANA National Money Show, Feb 27-1 March 2025 MPC Fest 2025 dates -- 4-6 April (call Kim at 419 732 7322) GNA Show, 11-13 April Michigan State NS -- April 10-12 ANA World's Fair of Money® -- 19-23 Aug, Oklahoma City
Please help us fill in the dates for the events listed and give us any additional events that might conflict. Thank you very much.
Resources
MPC Boot Camp by Fred Schwan https://youtu.be/ReL-dBk2cPk
MPCFest sponsors
Joe and Louise Boling, Steve and Ray Feller, Dave Frank, Al Glaser, Dave Hunsicker, Brett Irick, Harold Kroll, Mike Marcil, 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
WANTED
Vichy France - 1 Franc Bon de Solidarite. Back: "Comite Central" - without "...Departement de la Seine..."
Depending on which catalog you use it may be listed as:
Schwan/Boling 232 d Campbell 2323 d - Variety 4 Kleiber 1F Type C
Send offers with image of back of note to maturnerindy@gmail.com. Marcus Turner