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V25 2022 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 25, Number 26, June 26, 2022, Article 8

Fred Schwan edits the MPCGram, an email newsletter for collectors of Military Payment Certificates and other military numismatica. In the latest issue, he remembers paper money dealer Gary Snover. With permission, we're publishing an excerpt here. -Editor

I do not know when Gary started dealing or collecting paper money, but he was established and well known when I started collecting MPC in 1973! At that time Gary was also collecting MPC. Throughout his career, Gary found things to collect that others did not. That is why he collected MPC--few collectors even knew what it was and virtually no one collected it. Very shortly thereafter Gary discontinued collecting MPC because too many people were doing it!

He moved on to MPC replacements. Of course I too collected MPC replacements. I might have had five pieces. I remember very well receiving a letter from Gary including his checklist grid of MPC replacements. In the respective square he listed the grade and most importantly the serial number of the replacement in his collection.

I was astounded to see how many replacements he had! I still have that grid somewhere here in the black hole. When I find it next, I will publish it somewhere so that not only can we see it now, but also so collectors in another 50 years can see this important record. Oh yes, Gary had 17 different replacements.

Al Menke was one of the main collectors of military notes at the time. In a headline move, Gary bought the Menke collection! About the same time, Gary sold his bank note business to the famous Stanley Gibbons stamp company which had aggressively moved into paper money. I am not sure which of those two events was first.

For many years when I saw Gary at a show I called him Mr. Gibbons. He always smiled. I think that I even did that just a few years ago when I last saw Gary.

"With great sadness I had to learn that Gary passed away. I remember well that I bought my first four Albanian regional notes from him in the early 1990's. I still wonder where he got those from. Now those four notes have been accompanied by many many more. May he rest in peace!"

"I noticed that the article on Gary Snover did not include a definitive date of birth. I found a little additional information.

"Gary Franklin Snover was born on November 25, 1938, the son of Frank and Maye Snover. His father was a carpenter.

"Snover married Lola F. Ryan on April 21, 1970."

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
GARY SNOVER (1938-2022) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n25a07.html)