Fest Auction Has Goodies
Smulczenski takes up the gavel again at Fest 2026. The auction includes something for everyone. There are some rare and expensive things and some inexpensive, but interesting items. All or near all are of a military numismatic nature.
Some highlights: set of MPC Series 651 fractional certificates, six MPC replacements, and an Allied Military Currency specimen booklet. Canada is well represented with several war savings certificates including the rare $25 and scarce $10 denominations. The highlight of the Canadian section is an unredeemed Victory loan bond!
The illustrated catalog is included in the Fest program which is now posted at militarypaymentcertificates.us. You should review the catalog for treasures.
The MPC Fest auction is the main fund raising activity raising money for scholarships to the ANA Summer Seminar where Joe and Fred teach classes on the subject. Readers are encouraged to bid high and bid often to support the scholarship fund. You are also encouraged to apply for a scholarship and to take the classes.
The auction is held on Sunday morning at the Fest. If you cannot attend the Fest/auction in person, text your bids to Larry at 512 966 3900. Live bidding is possible by special arrangement on high value items. Please submit absentee bids as early as possible. If you have any difficulties try to contact Larry via voice. If everything fails, try calling the battalion clerk (Fred at 419 349 1872).
Counterfeit Detection Class Confirmed
The world famous counterfeit detection class created and taught by Joe Boling has been confirmed for Sunday 12 April in conjunction with MPCFest. In confirming that the class is on, Joe announced that he has room for two more students. There is room and the class is free, but it is important for students to register ahead with Joe so that he can take the appropriate training materials and equipment. Email Joe at joeboling@aol.com.
Unusual World War II Book Available at the Fest
Cover of Pay to the Order of Victory by James Downey
Many types of World War II paper money are popular with collectors. A new book by James Downey covers one of the little-appreciated byways: checks. It turns out that the category checks is itself broad.
The book titled Pay to the Order of Victory: United States Checks in World War II includes a foreword by Fred Schwan. The book is dedicated to the memory of Neil Shafer.
The book introduces each of these areas with text and illustrations (and always of interest to collectors, values) for each check type. Many of the checks were issued for very low amounts (one cent in many cases) thus adding interest for collectors.
Some of the types of checks discussed and listed are what you might expect: payment for government purchases or refunds for things like overpayment of income tax and war (or defence) bonds. Other types of check discussed and illustrated are fascinating stories in and of themselves.
Thousands of executives from private industries were hired by the government at one dollar per year. Checks were sent each year for one dollar or less for parts of a year. These checks were accompanied by thank you letters from the government and were nearly always saved by the recipients thus becoming important collectors' items eighty years after the war. Government programs were run soliciting unused automobile tires and binoculars. Both of these programs produced government checks that are now sought by collectors. At the end of the war, thousands of prisoners of war were sent home from the United States. Each former POW carried a government draft covering unpaid earnings from his time as a prisoner. Read about all of these checks and more here.
Sample checks illustrated in Pay to the Order of Victory
Here is a partial list of check types: War Department checks, Navy checks, US Navy binocular checks, Coast Guard checks, family allowances checks, furlough subsistence checks, US Army checks on English Banks, armed forces leave bond checks, Army and Navy postal money orders, Philippine bank checks, American Red Cross in India, POW payment orders, ration checks, income tax refund checks, idle tires checks, dollar-a-year man checks, savings bond redemption checks, defense and war bond refund checks, US government operation of Montgomery Ward checks and personal and private business checks.
The full color, large-format 24 page book was released on April 10th at MPCFest in Port Clinton, Ohio. It is available in a printed and digital version. The printed book is available in very limited quantities at $20 (plus $3 postage). The digital version is only $10 for emailed copies or $17 for a mailed thumb drive. Payment is preferred by check (of course!) (address below, shipped immediately upon email reservation).
Reserve your copy at fredschwan@yahoo.com. For USPS payment (and purchase for those inclined to snail mail ordering) write BNR Press, 132 E. Second St., Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. For inquiries and other matters contact fredschwan@yahoo.com.
Editorial
You can no doubt imagine that it has been mighty busy around Fest HQ recently. The Boss cracks a mean whip. The Fest Program was delivered to the printer this morning, but you can consult it now at MPC.us (spelled out without spaces of course). Doug Bell reports that the Fest program and auction catalog are also available on Facebook. He sent me some information that was guaranteed to make it easy for me to go there. Wrong. Not even close.
Doug says that it is a group page so that if you are a FB user, you should be able to find it. Doug also believes that he can train me at the Fest.
I think that this is the very last chance for me to encourage you to take Joe's counterfeit paper detection class. It is a rare opportunity to learn from the master! Contact Joe at joeboling@aol.com.
One final thing. If you happen to be in the Port Clinton, Ohio area, we have a bourse on Friday (10 April) that looks very much like a typical coin show and we even call it a coin show in the hope of avoiding confusion but it is actually quite an interesting array of material for sale. Of course the rather amazing thing is that it is on Friday only leading up to the Fest. We would be delighted to see you. Questions call me at 419 349 1872.
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,
You were clearly confused. CNN moved out of Atlanta going to New York.
— John
Dear John,
Wow. That explains it. As I reported, I arranged for Uber to pick up a copy of the MPC book and deliver it to CNN. I could not believe it when the fare came through on my credit card at $600!
— Editor
Dear Editor,
Nice job. I fell for your "Ship Scrip" story! Until the serial numbers put it over the edge. Happy April Fool's Day.
— David K.
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)