Excitement Builds in Pittsburgh
The American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money begins today in spite of officially opening tomorrow (Tuesday). Activities have started and deals are being made. Many Festers and Gramsters will be attending. They include this partial list: the Bolings, the Schwans, Ray Feller, Michael Chou, Danny Spungen, Roger Urce, Dave Frank, Joel Shafer, Dave Leong, Adam Bickford, Loretta Freyser and Harold Kroll, Adam Bickford.
Final, Final, Yes Final Fest Date Set
After much hard work by the Fest staff in coordination with the Holliday Inn Staff and especially veteran Festers, the dates for MPCFest 2027 have been fixed: 19-21 March 2027 with the opening reception on the evening of 18 March.
The hotel (419 732 7322) will be ready to accept reservations on Wednesday 26 August (2026). It is very important to call the hotel direct and to ask for Kim.
As usual the bourse will be he'd on Friday 19 March and will be open to the public (no charge)
Charles W. ("Snarlin' Charlie") King's Short Snorter
by Tom Sparks
Charles W. ("Snarlin' Charlie") King was born in Columbus, Ohio, September 8, 1919. He attended Xavier University in Cincinnati and entered service in 1940 as a Flying Cadet, graduating with class 41-D at Selma, Alabama. His first duty assignment was the 39th Pursuit Squadron, Selfridge AFB, Michigan. The unit moved to Bellingham, Washington, in December 1941, then to Paine Field (Everett), Washington, before deploying overseas from San Francisco to the South Pacific in 1942.
Names on face:
- Wayne P. Rothgeb (35th FG, 39th FS)
- William G. Jeakle (475th FG, 433rd FS)
- Simpson Hollabaugh (35th FG, 39th FS)
- UNDECIPHERABLE
- UNDECIPHERABLE
- Wesley S. Mick
- Paul J. Larson (35th FG, 39th FS) *
- Dick Tracy
- James H. ?
- Evans G. Stephens (35th FG, 40th FS)
- George C. Hanselman (35th FG)
- Roy Seher (35th FG) picture
- UNDECIPHERABLE
- UNDECIPHERABLE
- Jimmie Johnson
- UNDECIPHERABLE
Names on back:
Notated: "Townsville"
- Jack W. Berry (Major) (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Buzz Wagner (Lt Col) (35th FG)
- William J. Kennard (Lt Col) (Med)
- Robert L. Faurot (35th FG, 39th FS) KIA
- J. W. Shoup (90th BG)
- Joe Green (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Pete Turnbull (RAAF, No. 75 Squadron) KIA
- Dave Van Aken (35th FG, 40th FS)
- Frank E. Adkins (35th FG, 39th FS)
- J. W. Murphy (RAAF)
- Frank Royal (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Eugene A. Wahl (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Robert J. Hinson (35th FG, 39th FS)
- John T. Hylton, Jr. (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Thomas J. Lynch (35th FG, 39th FS) KIA
- Curren L. Jones (35th FG, 39th FS)
- James L. Ryan (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Wilson Ralston (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Edw Hess (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Ralph G. Martin (35th FG, 39th FS)
- J. C. Price (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Stephen L. David (35th FG, 39th FS)
- Martin D. Fuchs (35th FG, 40th FS)
There are actually three additional notes that were on the snorter which are part of the exhibit:
- Australia Ten Shillings (1939-1941), Serial # E/93 225357
- New Caledonia Five Francs (1926-1929), Serial # V.76 653
- Japan Ten Yen (1930), Serial # 824102 {556}
Editorial
I am excited. Tomorrow I will be at the ANA convention. Yes, I know, the powers like to call it the World's Fair of Money, and I actually agree that that this (WFM) is a better term for approaching the public, but I am an old foggie.
The highlight of the event will be visiting with old friends (see partial list above). I am particularly eager to get to the convention this year since I missed last year with a family medical problem since resolved, thank you. My first convention was 1972 or 73. I have been a regular since then though I missed another one or two along the way because life sometimes gets in the way of numismatics. I hope to get a report or two out from the convention and if you are there, send us some reports. If you could not attend this year, perhaps you can share a story or two from past conventions.
Looking now toward the short snorter above, Tom is amazing. He is amazing at finding short snorters and amazing at decoding them. I would like to see a contest at the Fest head to head Tom Sparks vs Jim Downey decoding short snorters. That would be a titanic contest.
The road to Tom sending us this image started at the Summer Seminar. We were discussing how scarce short snorters are that are created from high denomination notes with $20 being a high denomination WWII note. When Tom got home he learned that he was wrong about the note in question being a HAWAII note but he sent it along anyway because of the high denomination.
Mail Call
The Gram A welcomes mail from readers. Mail may be edited for space or clarity. Writers must be known to the editorial office and will be identified in the Gram by real or nickname.
Dear Editor,
Wow, time flies! Before you know it, weeks pass and you realize you haven't properly thanked the people who made the MPC Fest and ANA Summer Seminar events possible
I want to personally thank everyone who made the 2026 MPC Fest such an awesome event, as well as the individuals who made it possible for me to attend the ANA Summer Seminar. Last April marked my fifth MPC Fest. As always, it was an absolute blast, and the camaraderie was exceptional. I have no doubt that next year's event will be just as good, if not better
By a stroke of luck, I discovered the Military Numismatic Scholarship fund, which offers an ANA Summer Seminar scholarship for those wishing to further their knowledge. I applied and was both surprised and honored to receive a scholarship to attend this year.
I chose the "Advanced WWII Numismatics" course, and to no surprise, we had the best facilitators money could buy. A huge thank you to Fred and Joe for sharing their immense knowledge and wisdom with a room full of eager students. I met a lot of awesome people and learned far more than I ever thought possible.
During the seminar, we were asked to bring in "show and tell" items, including anything we hadn't been able to identify, with the hope that someone in the class could help figure it out. I brought in an item I have been researching for a very long time. To my surprise, no one else had ever seen it either!
I am still trying to gather information about this piece. The back is completely blank, and while it looks like it was used for Army finance training, the questions of where, when, and by whom remain a mystery. I am still searching for answers!
Thanks again to all,
— Steve Fahrlender
The Midway Islands "Ten Goonies" short snorter notes, "In Rowe We Trust" and "In Woods We Trust"
Dear Tom and Editor,
Did you notice that the gooney is swapped on the Rowe and Woods notes? Faces the opposite direction.
Prices at the Summer Seminar YN auction are not representative of actual market value (as you have noted).
— Joe
Dear Joe,
Oops. First you missed that the scholarship auction in question was the Fest, not Summer Seminar, auction. Still you comment is worth noting, but one must be careful with generalizations.
The Fest Goonie went for approximately $650 which was the reserve price. Most importantly it went to an absentee bidder without competition. I say that the buyer and seller knew what they were doing!
— 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 World's Fair of Money® - 25-29 Aug, Pittsburgh
Notables planning to attend: the Bolings, the Schwans, Ray Feller, Michael Chou, Danny Spungen, Roger Urce, Dave Frank, Joel Shafer, Dave Leong, Adam Bickford, Loretta Freyser and Harold Kroll
IKO TAMS Englewood, Oho 9-10 October. Fred Schwan attending
Michigan State Numismatic Society 20 - 21 November. Kathy Freeland, Fred Schwan attending
2027
MPCFest, Holiday Inn Express, Port Clinton, OH 19-21 March registration required (except bourse 19 - February) 419 349 1872 (questions) 419 732 7322 (registration, ask for Kim).
American Numismatic Association National Money Show, 4-6 March Virginia Beach, VA (Bolings attending).
Michigan State Numismatic Society 9-11 April. Kathy Freeland attending
Georgia Numismatic Association April 16-18, Dalton, GA. (John Phipps, David Marble attending)
Central States Numismatic Society, April 21-24 Schaumburg, IL
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, Joel Shafer.
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.
Large World War II home front ration collection featuring an MV red token and ration book 5. Too many items to describe. Contact Dave Frank at dave@frankcomputers.com and I will email you a list of all the items. Would prefer to sell the whole collection rather than individual items. It's a very nice collection accumulated over 25 years.
List your items for sale here for FREE
WANTED
Air Transport Command short snorter certificate
Wanted to Buy [WTB] I am looking for Air Transport Command (and similar) short snorters for my collection. Fred Schwan 419 349 1872 r fredschwan@yahoo.com