A new book – Krueger’s Men, The Secret Nazi Counterfeit Plot and the Prisoners of Block 19 by Lawrence Malkin has been recently published by Little, Brown.

 

I was pleased to receive a copy of the recently released Krueger’s Men book after a lengthy phone conversation with the author. I found the book a good read, and informative. It mostly deals with the particulars of the people involved in the German production of counterfeit Bank of England currency during WWII, their daily routine, the bureaucracy in which they needed to operate and what the prisoners had to deal with in the production of the items, and what all did after the war. There is an 8-page photo section of the principals involved and some of the sites. Only two notes are illustrated.

 

This is a historical novel, a good story based on facts with a bit of a bias slant.

 

It is not in any way an identification guide for the counterfeit notes. If you want a guide to the notes, and how to identify them, I must recommend Nazi Counterfeiting of British Currency during World War II by Bryan Burke. 1987. ISBN: 0-9618274-0-8.

 

The specifics for Krueger’s Men: ISBN-13: 978-0-316-05700-4 $24.99, 287 pgs, 6x9 format, hardcover.

 

George

While reading the E-Sylum, the electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, I was reminded that this week is the 20th Anniversary of the introduction of the first polymer plastic bank note. Actually January 26, 1998 was the date.

The honor went to Australia, and it was a circulating commemorative to honor the 200th anniversary of British settlement.

The note features Captian Cook in a hologram set in a clear area at the top left, the ship, Supply, and a group of colonists. The Back of the note features an aboriginal youth, rock painting and a ceremonial Morning Star pole. The dominate colors are brown and green on a multicolor underprint.

It is listed as #49 in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues.

With the success this commemorative note, the Reserve Bank replaced all circulating paper money (denominations from $5 thru $100) between 1992 and 1996.

George

December 2008 will mark the centennial of the founding in 1908 of the New York Numismatic Club.

As a member since 1981, I felt it important to participate some way in the centennial, so I made myself to be available as the after-dinner speaker for the January meeting, as I would be in town the week prior for the NY International show.

My topic was a discussion of 19th and early 20th century public transportation in the City of New York - Omnibus, Horse Car, Street Car, Elevated Railroad, Subway and Ferry. These were augmented by a selecion of fare tickets which ranged from the well engraved, to very plain typeset and offset printed items.

George