Morgenthau Departure
by Bill Myers
This letter from Secretary Morgenthau to Treasury workers is a swell document for my collection.
The letter is dated July 14, 1945. Certainly this is an interesting date. It is very near the end of World War II hostilities. July 14 is Bastille Day--the French Independence Day.
Of course I found it on eBay. It was probably sent out in fairly large numbers so additional copies should be around. I would be very interested in learning of additional copies in collections.
[Editor's notes: The 14 July date is of particular interest to me. It is my birthday! The date of this letter July 14, 1945 is exactly two years before my birth. Aside to Sparky, if you find another one, I am interested in adding it to my collection. I have a few July 14 dated items in my collection. An interesting addition would be a US war bond sold on 14 July 1945 to match this letter. For that matter bonds on that day in 1941, 42, 43, and 44 would make an interesting collection. I do not need any more things to collect, but....]
Below are 2 $100 War Bonds. The top one was issued on 27 SEP 1944 with serial number C66 916 684 E. The bottom was issued on 23 OCT 1944 with serial number C66 910 316 E. Both were issued at New Orleans M.O.B. They are 6368 serial numbers apart. The bond issued in October has a lower serial number than the bond issued in September. This is not an earth shattering find, it just means that the bonds were probably divided into piles and what serial number issued is dependent upon which pile the bond was pulled from. I looked up M.O.B. and came up with Main Operating Base and Mobile Offshore Base. The owner appears to be a civilian and I do not know why she would have bought them at a military base, maybe she worked there or knew somebody that did. That is dependent on the fact that I have the meaning of M.O.B. correct. M.O.B. may mean something else. The ebay seller had 13 $100 bonds for sale and all with the same stamp on them. I believe they have the same name and address but it was blacked out on the images. They are dated from July 1944 to May 1949. Six were purchased in 1944, 4 in 1945, 1 in 1948 and 2 in 1949. It appears none were redeemed. Each of the bonds cost $75 which is $1380.58 today. That is a lot of money for that time. All of the bonds purchased cost $975 or about $16,733.17 in today's dollars. If all the bonds were redeemed when mature at 10 years and the last one was redeemed in 1959 it would total $1300 which is $15,409.35 today. Inflation has eaten up some of the value since 1959. Ten bonds were purchased in 1944 and 1945 for $750 when the median annual income was $2379 so 31.5% of the median income was spent on bonds. This points to the owner of the bonds being of higher economic status than the average person, reinforced by the fact that she could afford not to redeem the bonds.
MPC Fest 2026
MPC Fest, 10 April 2026 – 12 April 2026
Traditionally, spring is the time when armies begin thinking about campaigning. As we look past winter into spring, the annual "campaign" of MPC Fest approaches. Fest is the premier event of the year for those who collect Military Payment Certificates or any other form of military currency. For those who have not attended, Fest is a combination of educational presentations, a hard-fought military numismatic trivia contest, the annual Dining-In, and above all, fellowship with other military collectors, and of course – poker. What would a military event be without poker? And to build your collection, it begins with an open-to-the public bourse on Friday and ends with an auction on Sunday. It is an event not to be missed for anyone with any interest in military currency. Dates for Fest 2026 are Friday, 10 April 2026 through Sunday, 12 April 2026. Location is Camp Leo May, aka the Holiday Inn Express, 50 NE Catawba Rd, Port Clinton, OH, 43452. Register by calling 419-732-7322. Don't miss this unique event. Oorah!
Editorial
The news release above regarding the Fest was created and sent by the Fest PIO (public information officer) Louise Boling. It is repeated above for general interest AND to provide a nice copy for YOU to use in promoting the Fest. Include a copy in emails. Include a copy in your local club newsletter. Selling something on ebay? Include a copy in the description.
I am sure that you can think of more ways to use it to promote the Fest!
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 saw notice that Fester Ron Waddel has passed.
Joe Boling
Ron was a great collector. He had a unique approach to collecting. He liked to collect a representative example of many different collecting areas. He told me that when he purchased a WWII Canadian war bond.
Still, Ron had a special interest in counterstruck coins. He told me that after counterstriking a Fest challenge coin at a Fest. He said that he had always wanted to counterstrike a coin and was excited to finally give it a whack.
Ron was a great collector and a gentleman. He is missed.
Editor
Training Schedule (calendar)
2026
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.
ANA National Money Show® 26-28 Feb, Savannah, GA MSNS – 17-19 Apr, Oakland Expo Center, Waterford MI Georgia Numismatic Assn Show 17-19 Apr, Dalton – Festers attending MPCFest 2026 10-12 April Central States - 22-25 April Netherlands world paper money show 1-3 May ANA Summer Seminar (Boling counterfeit paper course): 20-25 Jun ANA Summer Seminar (WWII course): 27 Jun-2 July ANA World's Fair of Money® - 25-29 Aug, Pittsburgh
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, Jennifer and Eric Kibbey (dba Camelot Coins), 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)