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Short Snorter 2006


Art

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...  or maybe a Counterfeit $20 freom work. . .

 

If you are the king of Canada, I have no advice, but if you live in Henrietta, Texas, you should know that mere possession of a counterfeit bill is not in and of itself illegal. However, counterfeit money is contraband and can be seized without a search warrant. Counterfeit money can be neither purchased nor sold legally. If you have a counterfeit $20 that someone took in by mistake, and you are a numismatist, then you might wish to enjoy the thing in the quietude of your own domicile. If you let it out of the house, it might not come back.

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If I'm missing anything - see table above - Please PM me with the info.

 

I'll send the mailing info to those who have signed up at the end of the week.

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umm, so why is this called a short snorter again?  sounds kinda piggy to me ...

 

 

 

It does have a "piggy" sound come to think of it. Long tradition that goes back to before the WWI. I read somewhere that it started with the French Foreign Legion in Africa. Since soldiers were from such varied backgrounds someone started the tradition of generating keepsakes. It had something to do with drinking as well. Not really clear. Help?

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This site has some nice ShortSnorter info and some snorters complete with their history. The one that the fellow carried in his wallet from WWII until the reunion in 1996 certainly makes a great story.

 

Short Snorters of the 447th Bomb Group

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Challenge Coins" (unit coins, etc.) have several independent origins

that have come together into a common thread.

 

During the Boer War, mercenaries (auxiliaries) were paid off with a

handshake and a shilling. The shilling was in the officer's hand and

was supposed to be passed without notice. This is the earliest

reference I have found to a "unit coin."

 

During World War I, an American soldier from a wealthy family had made

for himself and his mates medallions with the unit crest on them.

Separated from his unit during a battle and wounded, this man (or one

of his comrades) was captured by French civilians who would have

killed him for a German, had his medallion not shown him to be an

American. This was another origin of the "unit coin" (or medallion).

 

During the Barnstorming Era, an aviator created the first "short

snorter" notes. Using stage money, he signed his name to the money,

got his boss to sign a real dollar, and then swapped the two notes,

the stage money for the dollar. "Now pull it on someone else," he

said. Short snorters became a brief though widespread tradition

during World War II when soldiers met aviators. Here, again, there

were several instant traditions. The crew of a plane would sign and

swap notes the first time they crossed the equator, or the first time

they landed in a foreign field, etc. The idea was that if you did not

have that dollar the next time you met, then you had to buy a round of

drinks. This is an example of the "challenge" money. I have a scan

of a French note signed by contractors from Bendix, Singer, etc.,

passing through a medical center on Tahiti. (Note that civilian

contractors serving in war zones is not new to Gulf War II.) I have a

couple of short snorter US Dollars.

Soldiers on transports would create long banners of notes, American,

British, etc., etc., taped together.

 

Another source is that soldiers would sign a dollar and give it to a

wounded mate going back. "When you get home, have a snort on me," was

the blessing that went with that.

 

After World War II, the tradition evaporated. However, during the

Korean War, an officer (colonel, I believe) had made unit coins that

he distributed to his men.

 

During VietNam, the "unit coin" or "challenge coin" became one of the

"dong" coins of South VietNam. If you did not have one on you, you

had to buy a round of drinks.

 

Unit coins spread quietly but continuously. During Gulf War I, four

Americans were captured and later returned. On the way out, one joked

to another that their common experience would make a good challenge

coin when they got home.

 

Challenge coins (unit coins) continue into the non-combat departments

of the DoD and para-military agencies such as the FBI, etc. Police

and fire fighters, etc., also create them now.

 

-----------------------------------------------------

see also:

Beattie, Cliff. “The story of short snorters bank notes,” Canadian Paper Money Newsletter 12.1 (2004), pp. 26-27, illus. A brief account of "short snorters", banknotes signed by military servicemen as memorabilia of particular postings. A 1937 Canadian $1 short snorter is illustrated. (Oliver D. Hoover)

 

For excruciating detail, see "Short Snorters: Keeping the Memory Alive" in the November 2002 issue of The Numismatist.

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Entries for Short Snorter 2006 close on Saturday Jan21 at 11:59PM EST.

 

After that I'll pm final info to all of the participants. I'd like to have everyone's notes in hand before the 15th of Feb 2006.

 

Thanks. I think we'll have a great Short Snorter this year.

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coinpeoplecommem.jpg

 

One of the very rarest, and best looking.  Only three printed, one for me, one sent to a collector in Kuwait, and the one sent to Art.

 

I'm excited about that. It's a great custom note. I really like them. I'm thinking that custom notes is the way to go for future ShortSnorters. I'll have to consider a neat design. Thank you for the idea.

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