Are you sitting down?
By Fred Schwan
Wow, what a day! This morning I received a call from CNN. The caller asked me if I was the MPC guy. I said that I was. She continued that she had found me on the internet and wanted to know if I knew that military payment certificates were being used in Operation Epic Fury.
I told her that I not only had not heard that, but also that I doubted that that was correct. Had she seen the Military Payment Certificates?
She had not, but said that CNN's correspondent with the fleet could email her images of the MPC. She said that she would forward the images to me when she received them which she expected to be within a few hours. Would I be willing to comment on the matter after I saw the notes? Of course I would.
She said that she had seen on the internet that I had written a book about MPC. If that was correct, would I express a copy to Atlanta or did I know if a copy could be found in Atlanta. There are not many cities for which I could report that a copy could be picked up locally, but Atlanta is one. She gave me the delivery particulars and after the call I arranged to have a copy delivered by Uber to CNN.
The CNN lady asked if I could appear on the air on Wednesday if her boss needed me for background? I said that I could, but that I knew nothing about what arrangements might be necessary. She said that all I need is a smart phone and that a technician would call and explain it all.
After that I only had to wait for the supposed MPC images. I certainly did not expect to see images of MPC to show up in my box. Was the whole thing a scam? It certainly could be although the lady sounded legit. I called the number that she had given me and a CNN receptionist answered. It all seemed real. Well as legit as a report of a new MPC series could sound.
The day dragged on. Eventually the CNN lady called again saying that she had the images and that she was sending them over, would I call her back confirming receipt and giving my comments? Would I?!
Ship Scrip notes from Operation Epic Fury
A few minutes later the images arrived and with only a little trouble I was able to open them.
I do not remember what I expected. Certainly not a new series of MPC. Actually, I did not expect anything. I was surprised. Amazed actually!
The first mystery is solved. There are some notes but not MPC (or even Military Pay Certificates). It would be easy to say simply, oh they are Ship Scrip, but what the heck is Ship Scrip?
The most likely possibility is that ship scrip notes are naval souvenirs without any value whatsoever in commerce. Still, there is the possibility that the notes have some unofficial value like POGs did.
In spite of my negative comments, the notes are beautiful and I would like to have a set! I anticipate putting some pressure on my CNN contact to obtain some SS notes, but that seems like a long shot.
Obviously the notes are beautiful. Each note has a navy ship making likely that these notes were issued by the navy. Dies that mean that there are scrip notes for the Air Force and army? I was so overwhelmed by the designs that I did not notice the serial numbers at first. They are most strange. Three of the six denominations are serial number 00000008 and the other three are 00000039. It is as though a collector put these sets together. Having three notes with SN 39 would normally indicate that at least 39 full sets were assembled for collectors (think Allied military lire and Philippine VICTORY notes).
The best chance of obtaining some notes might lie with the Gram/Fest community. We have a few active duty Gramsters and quite a few parents and grand parents of active duty personnel. Perhaps a little networking can turn up some notes. We would certainly like to have at least a few to display at the Fest, but we will have to hurry to make that happen.
In the meantime I am waiting for CNN to call. My contact could not estimate the likelihood of an on air interview but the technician did call yesterday so that I can be interviewed from home. She promised me at least a 30 minute warning if they are going to use me and that if they have not called by 5 pm, they will not call at all.
I am tempted to ask how many of you want a set if I can get some, but expect that most of us would like a set. Of course the other factor (besides want) is price.
For me, the only thing to do today is to wait. You on the other hand can take action if you have family members or friends overseas with Operation Epic Fury, you can contact them and inquire about Ship Scrip.
Important Notice
The following important notice about the key note presentation is repeated below with a few important corrections. Professor Fujita's presentation will be on Japanese replacement notes and will include much interesting and unpublished material. The previous report that the presentation would be on JIM was entirely the error of your editor.
Japanese Replacements and More Key Note Topic
Ray Feller, MPC Fest training officer, is happy and proud to announce that Professor Kaz Fujita will give the MPC Fest key note presentation! The key note presentation will be shortly after lunch on April 11 at Camp Leo May (aka Holiday Inn Express Port Clinton).
Professor Fujita provided the following bio information for Gram readers and Festers.
I started collecting JIM back when I was in high school and was encouraged to collect by block and look for variations by the late Adrian Nader over the following years.
In the late 1970s I had the good fortune to meet and talk with the late Isao Gunji of the research department of the Bank of Japan. Subsequently, I published a series of articles on the quantity printed and issued of Japanese military notes in World Coin News trying to use Japanese sources. After making acquaintance with Joe Boling many years later, I updated my earlier findings and, with his encouragement, published a revised article in the IBNS Journal in 2003. Through the years, I expanded my research interests to the financial and currency history of Japan, still with emphasis on the 1932 – 1946 period. I continue to be interested in issue dates, quantities printed and issued, and minor variations in notes during the time of their issue. Over the years, I have collaborated with Joe on studies of hansatsu, notes of the reversion of Okinawa, local and private issues in the early 20th century, updates to World War II Remembered, and replacement notes, the subject of today's MPC Fest talk and intended for publication in the IBNS Journal.
Joe Boling will introduce Professor Fujita.
Fest 2026 News and Updates to Updates
MPCFest 2026 registration update
[Editors note. It s a Fest tradition that Brian Witzke is the last to register for the Fest. When the above Fest update was prepared, Brian had not registered. We were confident that he would and listed his name in red. He has now registered. That is good news. The bad news is that Roger Urce has had to cancel. See you next year, Roger.]
Editorial
As reported above, I screwed up the important notice regarding the key note presentation at the Fest. Gram readers will not be surprised that I can (and did) do that. I know and knew that the presentation was on Japanese replacements. I have known of Kaz's research in this area for many years and I have been trying to get him to come to the Fest for years, AND I was the one who invited him. It was a crazy and stupid error (yes, among many in over 2000 Grams).
I have a theory of what happened in this particular case. In the opening paragraph of the bio info Kaz provided, he mentioned that in his youth he had collected JIM. I remember pondering if I should use my editorial knife and change JIM to Japanese Invasion Money. I pondered that silly idea for way too long. That put JIM in my head which (I believe) led to the error.
This is not an excuse. It was my fault alone. I apologize to Professor Fujita, Ray, and most of all to you proverbial dear readers.
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.
Hello everyone! Do you have any new discoveries? Something fun for show and tell? Exciting history to share? A surprising collecting find?
Please share it with us at the Fest! We still have times available and welcome those who have spoken before and first-timers alike! Please fill out this interest form to help with planning. You can also email ray.feller@gmail.com.
Looking forward!
— Ray Feller
Dear Festers,
This is a reminder to bring your MPC rags to the Fest. It is your best chance to unload them!
— Doug
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.
MPCFest 2026 10-12 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!
Georgia Numismatic Assn Show 17-19 Apr, Dalton – Festers attending 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, Ray Feller family, Dave Frank, Kathy Freelalnd, Loretta Freyser, Al Glaser, Dave Hunsicker, Brett Irick, 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)