IKO TAMS Treasures
I was eagerly looking forward to attending the IKO TAMS (Indiana-Kentucky Ohio) Token and Medal society) show in Engandwood Ohio on 9 October. I had only attended this show a few times but this was going to be the 50th edition and, as I said, I was excited. It was a three hour drive for me. All went smoothly with the drive as I fantasized about great trench art coins and other treasures that I hoped to find.
I also feared that it would be a bust and the drive a wastes. The fear was wasted. within a minute of entering the hall Jeff Stark approached and handed me the above magazine Of sours the point was the great cover image of the tech sergeant showing their ward bonds to his wife and child. The image was worth the modest price that Jeff asked, but the bonus was the particular magazine, The Professional Embalmer.
Do not jump the conclusion and send me a bunch of old magazines. The best part was the way that this magazine found me!
There was not a lot of paper money to look at, but I found one interesting piece.
This 1946 Japan 10 yen has the typed name and service number of four sergeants. The service numbers make it sure that we could ind information on these guys. I would call this a souvenir note. It is not exactly exciting, but it is interesting and again was made for a very modest price.
I expected to find some tokens, but I really did not have any idea of what kind they might be. I was very pleased to find this advertising encasement with a 1943 cent. It should be possible to build a collection of these items. I now have one!
I bought one additional token. I did not want to buy it, but just could not resist. It is also machine token from Bien Hot Viet Nam. There was no way that I could resist having spent a year in that lovely place. I am sure that in the black hole that I have some more of these and I should have resisted, but I just couldn't not. there were many albums. of military tokens there. I was able to resist looking for more Bien Hot, but that single piece laying there just had to come hope with me.
I think that the most interesting item that I found was the MMaArthur medal above. I actually found two pieces that are varieties of each other. Like the RVN token above I believe that I have one of these medals here in the black hole. I even thought that I had previously inserted it into the Remembered 2 manuscript. I have looked therein but was not able to find it. The combination of Boy Scout and VICTORY gardens is quite wonderful. I suspect that there are more varieties. Do you have one of these medals? I hope so. fredschwan@yahoo.com.
UGH
Doug Bell is extremely creative when is comes to collecting MPC. He not only collects MPC that other would hardly consider like amusing serial numbers, but also collects MPC that others would avoid. Doug is try to build a collection of MPC in the worst possible condition. He has agreed to show us the results of his labors. Here is the first tnstalment.
Editorial
The IKO-TAMS show was a hoot. You can tell that I had a good time. Joe was there (as well as both of our brides), but we did not get a minute to chat as we were both shopping. Aside to Kathy Freeland would you please be sure that we get the dates of the 2027 IKO show.
I really like speciality shows. these are events that cater to a more narrow field than "coins" or "numismatics."
Of course for us paper money shows were the ultimate speciality shows with MEMPHIS the king of that group. The Strassburg stock and bond show was a popular event. As far as I know there is only one stock and bond show in the United States now. It is in January is the D.C. area. Please send me the dates of you have them.
In the days before paper money shows there were a few world "coin" events that were important venues for world paper money fans. I think that the New York still operates in January each year sometimes inflicting directly with FUN.
Of course the ultimate speciality show is MPCFest. It is so different that carefullly avoided calling it a show using instead Fest. I look forward to seeing you at the 2027 Fest!
Mail Call
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Dear Editor,
Bill Myers, Harold Kroll, Doug Bell, Dave Frank, and I just participated in a Zoom meeting for the Society of Ration Token Collectors. We shared and discussed a great deal of useful information about World War II rationing and related collecting areas, and the conversation highlighted a strong connection to MPCFest.
I believe a Friday forum on rationing would draw meaningful interest from several festers, just like the Bond Collectors Forum, the Military Stamp Collectors Forum, and the JIM & Philippines Collectors Forum. The topic would give attendees a focused way to explore wartime home-front history, military-related collecting, and the broader connections among these collecting specialties.
I encourage you to consider adding this forum to the 2027 MPCFest schedule and to gauge interest from other festers. I think it could become a valuable addition to the program.
Thanks,
— John Phipps
Dear John,
Good idea. Consider it done, but also consider helping. In addition to attending the event, please help by promoting the meeting outside the Fest community and help us remember to get it on the Fest training schedule etc.
— Editor/Fest Battalion clerk
Training Schedule (calendar)
2026
Michigan State Numismatic Society 20 - 21 November. Kathy Freeland, Fred and Judy Schwan and Louise and Joe Boling attending
2027
MPCFest, Holiday Inn Express, Port Clinton, OH 19-21 March registration required (except bourse 19 - March) 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
Doug Bell, 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.
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FOR SALE
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Pay to the Order of Victory United States Checks in World War II by Jim Downey. This interesting book was released at Fest 2026. It had a limited production and only a few copies are available. Printed copies $25 postpaid reservation at mufelika@charter.net. Digital copies $10 write fredschwan@yahoo.com.
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
Harold Kroll HARBONS@aol.com