World War II Monetary Curiosity - Seeking Information

RalphP13

After my grandmother's passing, coins and other monies that my grandfather had collected (mainly during World War II) made their way to me. Actually, they first went to my father who received an earful from me after he stated how well some of coins may clean up. After that, he realized they were probably better off with me.

One of the items, I find very interesting from a historical standpoint. It is a 100 franc note with signatures covering the front and back. I presume the signatures were the men that served with my grandfather. I'm wondering if anybody else has seen notes like this? Was this a common thing to do? I'm just looking for any information. I'm thinking about putting the note in a more formal presentation and returning it to my father as a memento of his father's service.






Thanks in advance for any information. I do realize this is the coin forum therefore for those of you expecting to see coins I will also post these. Four Bank wrapped rolls of 1964 Kennedy half dollars which also came in the collection.



Thanks, Ralph

TomB

The note with signatures is known as a short snorter. It would be interesting if you could identify all the signatures and if it was signed in the country of note issue.

Swampboy

As TomB said you have a Short Snorter.

There is an excellent article on these in the May '09 The Numismatist. In fact there are two similar 100 Frank/20 Belgas notes that look identical to your Dad's pictured in the article. Pm me if you think he'd enjoy reading it and I'll forward it along to him.

golfer72

That note is cool and a definite keeper. Your presentation idea is good also. The Kennedy rolls are interesting. Are you going to go thru them?

mightyhunter

Short snorter. I have some old $1 silver certificates and Red Seal $2 bills with the signatures. They were usually taped end to end and rolled up. They were real common with pilots during WWII. My son handled one a few years ago signed by the actor, Jimmy Stewart.

ajaan

One of the signatures is 'Glen C Drake' who was an author of a book about his experiences as a paratrooper during the war. Was your grandfather a paratrooper? Or is this a different Glen C Drake?

Link to book

ajaan

Another signature:

Edward Christensen

says he was KIA in 1944 during Operation Market Garden which would also likely make him a paratrooper.

ajaan

One last one, Harold Hughes was a govenor of Iowa who was a WWII Army vet but not a paratrooper I believe. If the person on the note is the same Harold Hughes as the govenor, your note is probably more valuable, if not monetarily, then historically.

RalphP13

Thank you for the responses. I knew I could count on this board.

Just knowing it is a short snorter allowed me to Google a lot more information.

Swampboy: Thanks for the information on the article. I went online and was able to download it from The Numismatist online.

ajaan: I also tried to search some of the names. I actually found the same page on Edward Christensen, however, I did not make the paratrooper association. I called my father and found out that indeed my grandfather was also a paratrooper.

golfer72: The note is definitely a keeper. At this point, I have no intention of doing anything with the rolls. Maybe someday my grandkids will end up with them.

Thanks, Ralph

PTVETTER

Your grandfather and his generation were truly something special.

Those notes ment so much to those that had them. The stories that note could tell if it could talk.

RalphP13

I think the signatures are similar enough (the bellowing loop of the small "g" and the crossing of the "H" from the second downstroke), that they probably are the same person. Thanks again to ajaan for that little tidbit.



Thanks, Ralph

ricko

Very interesting... rarely a day goes by that I do not learn something new on these forums. I had never heard of a short snorter... I must read up on this... thanks.. Cheers, RickO

ajaan

Well this is making more sense to find out your grandfather was a paratrooper. The Belgium note makes a lot of sense because of Operation Market Garden and the fighting that took place by the airborne troops in Belgium.

Very interesting note.

RalphP13

<< <i>Well this is making more sense to find out your grandfather was a paratrooper. The Belgium note makes a lot of sense because of Operation Market Garden and the fighting that took place by the airborne troops in Belgium. >>



I found out my grandfather was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. They were clearly involved in Operation Market Garden.




<< <i>The stories that note could tell if it could talk. >>



I think this note is doing its best to try and tell its story right now. Since my grandfather died when I was very young (age 7). I never got to hear the "war stories".

One of the appeals of collecting to me is the link of coins/money to history. This time it just happens to be much more personal.

Thanks, Ralph