Well known Festers Brian Giese and Bill McNease died last week after long battles with cancer. Both Festers were life long collectors and are missed.
Talks Collection Sold
The Talks Series 471 five cent MPC, serial number B00000001B, graded PMG 50
As announced by Logan Talks in Gram 2655, his famous (and important) collection of MPC and fancy numbers was sold on May 14 by Stacks Bowers.
Also as expected the headline item was the only issued serial number one MPC. This sale was the first public sale of this note although images of it have appeared in multiple editions of the MPC book courtesy of Logan. It had been in the Talks collection for more than fifty years!
If you would like to guess the price realized of this famous note, that price is reported below in the letters section. [aside to Logan, the Gram would love to share any thoughts/comments that you may have on the sale and fifty years of collecting.]
Seminar News
The American Numismatic Association has confirmed that the entire slate of military classes will be held this summer! The four are Detecting Counterfeit World Paper Money (instructed by Joe Boling), MPC Boot Camp (mini seminar instructed by Fred Schwan) and World War II Military Numismatics (instructed by Fred Schwan and Joe Boling).
Significantly, all of the classes have spaces available meaning that you can attend a class or two or even three classes! These possibilities are being facilitated by important news from the military numismatics scholarship committee.
Kathy Freeland, chair of the committee, has announced that in addition to tuition, room and board, scholarships will now include travel reimbursement of up to $200 for North American travel and $500 for travel from outside North America.
Furthermore additional scholarships are now available for as long as funds and seats are available!! Contact Kathy now.
Editorial
The news of the passing of Bill McNease and Brian Giese shocked me even though I knew that both had been battling cancer for a long time. Brian had hoped to attend the Fest just a few weeks ago and I had spoken to Bill literally a few days before he passed.
I knew both of them for more than forty, perhaps fifty, years. Brian bought MPC from me via the mails in the 1970s when he was a young teenager. He loved to tell the (very true) story that I sent him a set of Series 681 (I think) fractional notes that included a replacement unnoticed by me!
I do not remember exactly when I met Bill, but he was one of the few remaining Viet Nam veterans who was still collecting MPC fifty years later. (Yes, there are still several of us (Joe, Ski and others and, yes, too many other RVN era collectors preceded Bill and Brian).
Bill tracked down the sailors who appear on the Series 681 fractional notes and obtained their autographs on some notes.
You are invited to report your recollections of these great collectors.
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 Readers,
The Talks Series 471 five cent certificates serial number B00000001B sold for $5,515 including all fees. The note was sold to a phone bidder.
The price realized ca 1975 when this note was first sold is known but has not previously been reported. We will report that amount in the next Gram thus allowing you to estimate (guess) the amount.
— Editor
Dear Editor,
Brian was a good friend and a good man who will be missed by many.
— Roger Urce
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 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
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)