Fest Auction Additions
Fest headquarters is happy to announce receipt of 20+ late additions to the Fest scholarship auction. The Fest auction (and editorial team) went out of its way to work the lots into the schedule. The lots are listed below starting at lot 201.
Because of the lateness of the submission, the format of the listings here in your Gram may be difficult to follow but your efforts will be rewarded with some interesting finds. Remember, absentee bids are accepted.
Auction Items Fest 2026
201 — $10.00 chit book State Food Stores Moundville, West Virginia. Coal country company store with voucher, (5 available) $5.00 Ea.
202 — NCO Open Mess chits Arlington Hall Station 5, 10, 25, 50 Cent $5.00
203 — Commemorative 1 Dinar Anniversary Liberation of State of Kuwait 1993. 2 Available $10.00 Ea.
204 — Chile 50 Escudos Large Note Choice Unc. 1964-1972 $8.00
205 — 5 Great Britain BMA 2/6 X Note S/B303b Issued For Yugoslavia RARE $300.00
206 — Great Britain BMA 5/- X Note S/B 304b Issued For Yugoslavia Rare $400.00
207 — Military Fest Certificates COPIES Stamped Specimens & Proofs #5 $20.00
208 — 10 Million Dollars Fantasy Notes Honoring The Armed Forces $10.00
209 — 2 Logistical Exercise Notes Fort Lee Va. (Training Notes) Red & Brown. 2 Available $20.00 Ea.
210 — Apollo Space Series 3 Coin Sets, Copper/Nickel, .999 F.S., Bronze. All In Lucite Holders. Blank, Apollo #1, Apollo #2, Apollo VII, Apollo VIII, Apollo 11, Apollo XII, Apollo XIII, Apollo 14, Apollo XV, Apollo XVI. THE MAJORITY, IN MEMORIAM. Total 13 Sets, 39 Medals, Beautiful Set! $1999.00
211 — Canada $1,000,000.00 Fantasy Note Ottawa 2003. 10 Available $10.00
212 — Leather Cloistercraft War Bonds Holder New In Box Very Nice $25.00
213 — Italy Partisan 10 Lire S/B 34691-2 Ch. Unc Full Tab $250.00
214 — 2 German Partial Postage Stamp Books 1939 & 1941 $20.00
215 — Netherlands Ministerie Van Oorlog Made In A Button Factory During WWII. For Small Change, 5, 10, 25 Cents S/B 132, 133, 134 Scarce NEW BOOK $180.00
216 — Indo-China 100 PIASTRES N/D 1942-45 Block D P-73 $85.00
217 — 1947A Barter Unit Frankfurt Am Main S/B689 1 B.U.T.E. $400.00
218 — 1946 Barter Unit Frankfurt Am Main S/B 611 1 B.U.T.E. $400.00
219 — Netherlands Winterhulp 1940-1941 One Gulden $185.00
220 — Netherlands Winterhulp 1943-1944 One Gulden $185.00
221 — Netherlands Winterhulp 1942-1943 2.50 Gulden 1942-1943 $225.00
222 — Germany ANTI-SEMITIC ON P-76 "Tarnished GEMS" $200.00
223 — Germany Camp Issue MITTELBAU RM -.01 S/B1031 $350.00
224 — Germany Postcard $40.00
225 — Germany 2 Post Marked Envelopes $30.00
226 — Germany 3 Different Postcards UNUSED (2 Available) $24.00
227 — Germany WHW Post Card $20.00
228 — Germany Geldlotterie Reichsluftfchutzbundes 200000 11-9-1937 RARE $350.00
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.
Welcome Back
Original Fester to Fest Dan Swartz will be attending Fest 2026 after missing the most recent Fests. Dan is a keen MPC collector. He reports being excited about returning. Tentatively add Dan Swartz to the Alpha list on page 10 as 36.5. Additionally add Dan to Alpha Company.
Editorial
At first I was a bit aggravated to need to publish this change to the Fest program when the hard copy had not even been distributed yet. Then a cooler head prevailed. It is wonderful to be able to distribute new/important information on very short notice.
We were able to make a few additional changes. In the sponsor list we had a typo in Kathy Freeland's name. Furthermore she had reported this mistake a few times. We also did not have the Michigan State Numismatic Society show on the calendar for the weekend of April 18. Of course we hate the omission, but it is particularly bad in this case because I expect to be at the show on the 17th and hope to see you and other Festers there.
Finally, Joe reported that we had a typo in his email address. Although we could not find it, we want to point out at this important time that Joe's email is 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,
I was very excited to read about the key Notte presentation by Professor Fujita! I look forward to it very much.
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 MSNS (Michigan State) coin show weekend of 18 April Kathy Freeland, Fred Schwan and many other Festers will be there. 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 Freeland, Loretta Freyser, Al Glaser, Dave Hunsicker, Brett Irick, Jennifer and Eric Kibbey (dba Camelot Coins), Harold Kroll, Bill Myers.
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
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.
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)