Exhaustive analysis of America's first large
cents. This is the font of knowledge for collectors specializing in
early large cents. At 895 hardbound page, its about as big and heavy
as a bible. Be careful, don't drop this book on your toe, it will
hurt! Many years in the making, headlined by legendary researcher
Walter Breen, there is no better tool available for understanding US cents
minted 1793-1814. Priced at over $80, its expensive, but for serious
students of this numismatic genre, its priceless. You can find it at Abebooks.com.
Use "Walter Breen" as the search criteria in the "Author" field.
That's the most direct way to sort amongst the millions of titles you'll
find at this site (ISBN led me down a dead end). Of course, you can
borrow the American Numismatic Association's
copy for the cost of postage and insurance, both ways. That's what I
did, since I don't love early large cents as much as other collectors.
"Written by the acknowledged expert on
American large cents, this encyclopedia is a must for any collector of this
series, as it has everything you ever wanted to know about large cents.
Each coin is illustrated and described by die combination, obverse/reverse
identifiers and Breen and Sheldon numbers. The accompanying text
elaborates on the identifiers and die states. Other sections provide
additional cross-references to other cataloguers, rarity factors, and a
condition census. 895 pages hardbound."
The seeds of Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents
1793-1814 germinated back in 1949 with the publication of William
Sheldon's masterwork Early American Cents, revised and updated as
Penny Whimsy in 1958, and reprinted in 1965. Breen assisted
Sheldon with Penny Whimsy, but continued his relentless study of
early US cents. With Sheldon's blessing, Breen set out to publish an
"encyclopedia" of large cents.
For years, Breen toiled on on this project. One clever method Breen
employed to identify theretofore unknown die varieties was to superimpose
photographic slides of the same date on top of one another, whereupon
minute differences (and by definition, new varieties), if any, were
noticeable.
Between the covers of this encyclopedia,
you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about the cents of
1793-1814.
Breen died in 1993. From what I
gather, Del Bland and Mark Borckardt, whose names also appear on the
byline, picked up the ball and kept running. Seven years later,
Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents 1793-1814 was
published.
Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents 1793-1814
is a masterful, exhaustive analysis of cents minted during the infancy of
our nation. This work is the culmination of years of research by
some truly talented researchers. It is one of the most dominant
publications I've ever seen within any field of numismatics.
The chapter "How the Early Cents Were Made"
is, to me, a tribute to the persistence of the Mint's original employees.
Through ingenuity and grit, and under the watchful eyes of the Founding
Fathers, they overcame numerous production difficulties to strike the
first coins bearing the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".
Visualizing the facility where these early
American artifacts were minted deepens the appreciation for this book.
Before reading on, take a few minutes to meander over to our page on the
Philadelphia Mint.
Highly summarized Table of Contents, but effective enough. Good,
functional index.
Most dates and varieties are depicted by
enlarged (nearly 3x) photographs of obverse and reverse. All are
black and white, but are sharp and crisp, and are valuable to
understanding the varieties.
Some images of the primitive minting process
are worth thousands of words. I only wish there were more.
"Variety Trees," one for each large cent
year 1793-1814, graphically illustrates how new varieties, both obverse
and reverse, stemmed from the original dies. I can appreciate why it
required years to sleuth out these pedigrees, but using the variety trees,
the reader can assimilate the same schooling in minutes.
Beautiful, hard bound cover, sure to illicit
comments, even from the uninitiated. The inside, while content
packed, is exceedingly dull. Only disciples of early large cents
will be caught thumbing through the pages in earnest.
I'll give this one a 4-Star SPR rating,
because the data is so well organized, the enlarged photos are of very
fine quality, and the "variety Trees" are so effective in transmitting
information. In spite of being 895 pages in size, the book is easy
to navigate, owing to how cleverly the book is structured. Moreover,
the hardbound cover is attractive. These characteristics overshadow
any ho-hum presentation attributes and push Walter Breen's Encyclopedia
of Early United States Cents 1793-1814 into 4-Star SPR rating
territory.
2nd edition of the top-rate tome of Morgan silver dollars.
Q. David Bowers, who already has penned some 40 numismatic publications,
deserves another pat on the back for this analytical gem. For the
collector of Morgan silver dollars, this is a MUST acquisition.
Complete with wonderful bonus on history and tradition of America and the
Morgan dollar and richly illustrated. How can anyone do this much
incredible research and justify selling it on
Amazon for only $12.25?
"The 2nd edition contains updated pricing
information and a new chapter on Silver Dollar Patterns. Author Q.
David Bowers, dean of American numismatic writers, gives readers an in-depth
look at Morgan Dollars in the first of a series of specialized Red Books.
Dave introduces you to the people involved and takes you to the places where
these popular coins were struck. Every date and mintmark combination
is addressed individually with collecting tips, mintage figures, market
values, population reports, rarity, varieties and striking characteristics.
This book is a must for any Morgan Dollar collector. Illustrated, 288 pages,
softbound."
The 1st edition
of this book came out in 2004, under the title "The Official Red Book
of Morgan Silver Dollars. The 2nd edition has a slightly
different title, updated current values, and an appendix describing four
Morgan silver dollar patterns from 1878. Everything else appears to
be much the same.
The book has a glossary specific to Morgan dollar terms. Now there's
a different twist.
After Introduction and opening credits,
Chapters 1-5 (pages 11-50) introduce us to the tradition, origin, and
history of the Morgan silver dollar. The captivating imagery puts
the reader in close proximity to the past, and once you start reading, you
may not be able to stop.
Chapters 6-9 (pages 51-110) review hoard
releases, recommendations on ways to sensibly collect Morgan silver
dollars, grading, specialized varieties, how to buy Morgans intelligently,
and avoiding potential pitfalls. Photos support the text in
seemingly all the appropriate spots.
Chapter 10, the final chapter, is the meat
of the book. Consisting of 166 pages, it is an extensive
analysis of all Morgan silver dollars, by date and mintmark, individually
reviewed. Every dollar is pictured, actual size. Major varieties, such as tail feather styles, overdates,
and overmintmarks are included. Impressive, meaningful research.
A couple of points I like is the "Optimal
Collecting Grade", which is the author's learned opinion of the grade
offering the best value for the money, and "Keys to Collecting", a
synopsis of what to look for when buying - general strike features,
appearance, and rarity.
Each coin's survivability rate, across a
range of Uncirculated and Proof conditions, is summarized on the Whitman
Coin Guide grid. The survivability data is comprised of the number
of times the coin has been graded professionally by NGC and PCGS in the
listed Uncirculated and Proof conditions, and the author's estimate of
total number of Morgan dollars believed overall to exist in these grades.
Before the dollars of a given year are
analyzed, there is a lead in entitled "MORGAN SILVER DOLLARS, RARE COINS,
and LIFE IN 18xx [or 19xx]". This is a look at what was happening
that year in United States coinage, and in particular, with the Morgan
silver dollar. A subheading called "Meanwhile, on the American scene
in 18xx". Here we learn about other noteworthy events occurring that
year. For example, in 1881, the assassination of President James
Garfield, the growth of railroads, and the formation of Western Union
Telegraph, are recounted. There are about 5-10 historical reminisces
per year.
The "Meanwhile, on the American scene"
feature is one of the things I enjoyed most about Bowers' Red Book of
Morgan Silver Dollars. The study of US history, lumped together
with the heritage of our coinage, is my personal passion, and was a major
inspiration in the creation of this website.
The Table of Contents is descriptive and useful, but a few subheadings
would have been even better.
No index! How can an otherwise
magnificent reference lack an index?
Wonderful, plentiful illustrations. In
the first 9 chapters, Bowers inserts highly relevant, utterly fascinating,
well-captioned images. Quite a few of these images are from private
collections and rarely seen, giving a fresh look to an old story.
Chapter 10 contains photos of the dollars themselves. All images are
black and white, but are sharp and crisp. Unfortunately, there are
no illustrations accompanying "American scene" material in Chapter 10.
The text flows smoothly and maintains
interest. Illustrations and sectioned material are friendly to the
senses. Overall, the work is coherently tied together, and is
packaged nicely.
Focused delivery on US commemorative coinage.
Author Anthony Swiatek, a.k.a. "Mr. Commem", reinforces his credentials a a
leading authority in his field. Usable, intriguing information on
every US commemorative coin, minted up to the year of publication (2001).
Population reports help assess actual scarcity in the highest grades.
The old adage "Buy the Book Before the Coin" applies here.
Found at
at
Amazon for $15.99 (NEW)
"Commemorative Coins of the United States
features in-depth information on the design and history for all U.S.
commemorative coins from 1892 to present, including all the facts and
figures on the 1999-2008 State Quarters program. 415 pages softbound."
I
don't want to assume everyone understands the concept of commemorative
coins, so let me shoot one bullet point to explain: Commemoratives
generally refer to special coins produced in limited quantities for a
limited time to pay homage to a specific event, person, or place.
Commemorative coins were minted by the US intermittently 1892-1954, and
from 1982 to the present.
Author Swiatek describes basic facts
pertaining to the origin of each commemorative: reason for issue,
authorized mintage, actual production figures, design description,
background info on the coin's theme (i.e. who provided the impetus behind
its creation, legislative give-and-take, etc.), and other information.
Long honored as one of the most savvy
commemorative coinage experts alive today, Swiatek dispenses advice on a
coin-by-coin basis, grading, what buyers should look for, and future price
appreciation potential. Because every commemorative coin is
different, it takes years of experience to accumulate a knowledge base
rivaling that of the author. They don't call him for "Mr. Commem"
for nothing!
The ever popular 50 State Quarters program
is mentioned. Don't purchase this book if the quarters program is
your sole interest. Commemorative Coins of the United States was
published in 2001, and from the perspective of the quarters program,
is badly outdated and of limited value.
Population tables, combining figures from
the PCGS and NGC grading services provide insight on actual scarcity of
the 1892-1954 commemoratives. Populations (i.e. the number of coins
submitted and certified) are recorded for grades MS-63, MS-64, MS-65,
MS-66, MS-67, and MS-68. This data is useful in assessing a coin's
true availability in he finest of conditions.
Collecting commemorative coins is a pursuit
enjoyed by a sizeable swath of the numismatic community. Anyone
desiring to collect commemoratives, beyond scouring through pocket change
in search of the latest state quarter, ought to acquire this book before
buying that next commemorative coin.
The photos are all black and white, and
represent the actual size of the coin depicted. I always prefer enlarged,
color photographs (but then I squeal when the book's price tag increases
accordingly).
The book is crammed with good content, but
frankly, the style and presentation are uninspiring. I suppose it
passes as an OK, but it just didn't get my juices flowing.
The coins appear in chronological order, so
its pretty easy to find what you're looking for, if you know the date.
I just don't like the book cover. The
color combination, for some reason, remind me more of an arts and crafts
catalog. Now I'm being picky, but to me, it doesn't conjure up visions of the serious numismatic
endeavor that it is.
Visually striking coin photography
characterizes United States Coinage: A Study by Type. Veteran
numismatists and authors Ron Guth and Jeff Garrett describe nearly 140 US
coin types. Individual coin type descriptions feature stunning photos,
a few retail value trends over time, current retail values, and a narrative
providing an historical background, information on rarities, and other
interesting factoids. The book endeavors to sentimentally connect
modern day readers with America's bygone eras through the prism of
numismatics, but in this regard the effort falls short. Overall, its a
sure bet that United States Coinage: A Study by Type is one of the
finest coin publications in the year 2005. The pictures alone justify
the price, available through Amazon.
"Renowned numismatic authors Ron Guth and Jeff
Garrett provide a fascinating and informative glimpse into American history
through the eyes of a coin collector. Peer into the heart and soul of
America - to view snapshots of life and ideals of its people - by examining
the coins the nation has produced since 1792. Completely illustrated
with full-color photos. 168 pages hardbound"
The introductory chapter of United States Coinage: A Study by Type,
lays out a two page overview of the history of our republic and its
overlapping influence on US coin making. The "heart and soul" tone
of the book's first words leads the reader to believe that we're going to
be treated not only to an expert numismatic research project, but also
receive a serious, emotional lesson in US history. Indeed, this is
an unparalleled work on US type coins, but the poignant historical
perspective hinted at in the promo never materializes.
There are about 140 United States type coins
presented. All types arranged from smallest denomination to largest,
beginning with the Liberty Cap Facing Left half cent, and ending with the
$20 Saint-Gaudens, Arabic Numerals with motto.
One page is devoted per individual type
coin. The information found on each type is:
Title: The name of the coin type and
date of issue (e.g. Barber dime)
Images: Color images of the
highest quality of the front and
reverse of coin type example. Truly fantastic
photography.
Mintages: Cumulative mintage
data for type is reported.
Narrative: This is the most
informative section, where aspects
of individual type are explained. Some
mention of key dates
provided here. The narrative provides
historical background,
anecdotal information, fun facts,
and more.
Specifications: What would a
numismatic reference be without
the obligatory weight, metallic composition,
designer, etc.
Retail Values: Values that collectors
can expect to pay for a
range of different grades. More on
this later.
Rarity: Estimates on how easy
or difficult it will be to obtain this
type, and the grade availability.
Historic retail value trends, focusing on
one grade for each coin type (usually Fine or Uncirculated) are summarized
in Appendix A. Values are posted for the years 1960, 1970, 1980,
1990, 2000, and 2005. There is no breakdown for individual dates
within the coin type series, making it impossible to evaluate the
performance of key dates. What the data appears to represent is an
average of common dates for the coin type. Its good to
know in an overall sense how a coin type has fared over the decades, but
specific data on individual coins in a range of conditions is a much
better indicator if one is searching for a coin that will likely someday
in the not so distant future will be worth considerably more than what
it is today. (Presenting voluminous value trends was not a
primary objective of this book, so I
understand why the authors refrained from doing so. Go to our
Coin Value Tables™
for more thorough information in this regard).
Appendix B reports on certified populations
of United States coins, by type. Population reports are combined
from
NGC and
PCGS
grading services. Population reports quantify how many coins of a
particular date in a given condition have been recorded by a grading
service. The importance of population reports is that they are
perhaps the best indicator we have for true rarity across the grading
continuum. Here again, no individual dates are found, merely
cumulative totals from Good to MS-70 for each coin type.
Prices paid at auction for an
individual high grade member of each coin type appear in Appendix C.
Price, date, grade, and sale date are recorded. For example, in
February 2003, an MS-68 Liberty Walking Half dollar was sold for $6,325.
Unfortunately, the intent of Appendix C is a bit unclear. The
appendix title itself, beginning on page 166, reads as if the prices
contained therein are the highest prices ever paid for an individual coin
of each type. However, we have to go back to the bottom of page 8 to
learn that the auction records are only for some of the highest-grade
examples ever to have appeared for sale, not necessarily the highest
prices ever paid. Hopefully, if there is someday to be a 2nd
edition, the authors will state more plainly the purpose of Appendix C.
Better yet, lets add an Appendix D, where all the record high prices are
listed.
Based upon what I saw in the promotional
piece and the Introduction, I expected to see a few historical images
interspersed amongst the numismatic findings. Not a single such
image was to be found. As an amateur historian, I was disappointed
in this respect.
The most obvious top quality feature of United States Coinage: A Study
by Type is the stunning coin photos. The glossy pics are simply
fantastic. Coin type photos are both enlarged and actual size.
The coin pictures alone are worth the cost of publication, and overwhelms
any shortcomings the book might have (which are few).
Hardbound, 168 pages. Its a big book,
measuring about 12.5" x 10.5". The oversized character allows for
the large photos and effective one page layout per coin type. A
minimal drawback is that the book is too tall to fit in many bookshelves.
The cover is graced by obverse and reverse
images of a 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar, a coin I someday dream of
owning. The cover artwork is certainly above average, but it doesn't
do justice to the marvelous imagery found inside.
The Table of Contents makes it easy to look
up coin types. Types are arranged by denomination. The Table
of Contents could have served as a quick reference guide had the
mintage years for coin types been included.
There is no Index. This makes it
difficult to mine numismatic nuggets, historical tidbits, and other
interesting facts buried within the fine narratives. A good index
would have been an additional hook to reel in bookstore buyers.
United States Coinage: A Study by Type is
very well written, flows easily, is well organized, and expertly
formatted. Style, Presentation, and Readability all rate very high.
We have come to expect this from Ron Guth, Jeff Garrett, and Whitman
Publishing.
For nerds who want to engage in further
research, there is an extensive bibliography.
