Coins Books

For anyone interested in Chinese art, where the provenance of a painting can matter more than who painted it, this book is a must. If you can, get the later edition (1966), which includes additional seals from American collections.

This two volume set by Q. David Bowers is the definitive reference for silver dollars and trade dollars. In addition to describing the differences and characteristics for each dollar for every year of minting there is a lot of facinating history included for each series. If you are a serious silver dollar collector, these books are indispensible for identification, minting characteristics, and rarity at all grade levels.
Highly recommended.

"The Silver Dollars of North and South America" by Wayte Raymond

This book is an illustrated catalog of all major types of dollar-size coins of the Western Hemisphere, with valuations.

The following countries each have separate sections:
Argentina
Bermuda
Bolivia
Brazil
British Guiana
Canada
Chile
Columbia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Curacao and Netherlands West Indies
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Greenland
Guatemala
Haiti
Hawaii
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
Salvador (El)
Santo Domingo
United States of America
Uruguay
Venezuela

Plus special topic sections on:
Necessity Coins of British Possessions
Necessity Coins of French Possessions
Necessity Coins of the Danish West Indies

There is a useful section on Spanish American mints and mintmarks that simplifies attribution.

The bibliography looks thorough. Unfortunately, the books referenced in the bibliography are long out of print and difficult to locate.

Also, the valuations are outdated and no longer offer any useful information.

This is a useful source for type and date attribution. Mint mark attribution is good only on the Spanish colonial chapters. The cataloging of counter stamps is excellent, especially considering that this text is a general introduction to the field.

The photography is very good. The selection of silver dollar specimens for the photographs and the quality of the photographs themselves are both excellent.

This book is a high quality addition to the non-specialist numismatic library.

"The Silver Dollars of North and South America" by Wayte Raymond

This book is an illustrated catalog of all major types of dollar-size coins of the Western Hemisphere, with valuations.

The following countries each have separate sections:
Argentina
Bermuda
Bolivia
Brazil
British Guiana
Canada
Chile
Columbia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Curacao and Netherlands West Indies
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Greenland
Guatemala
Haiti
Hawaii
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
Salvador (El)
Santo Domingo
United States of America
Uruguay
Venezuela

Plus special topic sections on:
Necessity Coins of British Possessions
Necessity Coins of French Possessions
Necessity Coins of the Danish West Indies

There is a useful section on Spanish American mints and mintmarks that simplifies attribution.

The bibliography looks thorough. Unfortunately, the books referenced in the bibliography are long out of print and difficult to locate.

Also, the valuations are outdated and no longer offer any useful information.

This is a useful source for type and date attribution. Mint mark attribution is good only on the Spanish colonial chapters. The cataloging of counter stamps is excellent, especially considering that this text is a general introduction to the field.

The photography is very good. The selection of silver dollar specimens for the photographs and the quality of the photographs themselves are both excellent.

See Also:

The Silver Dollars of North and South America, Second Edition: An Illustrated Catalog of All Major Types of Dollar-size Coins of the Western Hemisphere, with Valuations.

This book is a high quality addition to the non-specialist numismatic library.

A Silver Legend: The Story of the Maria Theresa Thaler. Clara Semple. Barzan Publishing. £19.95. xii + 165 pp. ISBN 0-9549701-0-1.

Maria Theresa Thalers can still be found in the souqs around the Middle East, and are often stumbled upon in the far corners of the world. How did a coin from an Austrian Empress spread so far and become so well known? This is what Clara Semple attempts to show the readers of her book A Silver Legend: The Story of the Maria Theresa Thaler. Clara has transcribed a legend upon pages. She first discovered her interest in the Thaler while researching traditional silver jewelry of Egypt and the Sudan. An archaeological artist, Semple has lived and traveled in the Middle East for most of the last half century, and in the process has become a reputable source for information on the Maria Theresa Thaler.
The book starts off with a brief forward on the history between the author and the Maria Theresa Thaler. This is followed by a concise but informative introduction, which demonstrates the geographical distribution of the coin, along with key points as to why the coin became an important commodity. The next three chapters of the book give attention to the European origins of the coin. These chapters cover silver mining and coin production, an overview of the life of Empress Maria Theresa, and the Imperial use of the Thaler.
The next section of Semple's book covers the ascent and use of the coin as an internationally traded commodity. The coin that Johann von Fries launched on the world would have a reign of more than 200 years. The last chapter in this section gives numerous first hand accounts relating to the coin. These accounts give vivid details of travel in the region from European explorers and travelers.
Legends and tales of hidden hoards of coins are given, along with accounts of how rulers in the region made use of them. The names by which the coin has been known, and the attempts to forge the coin are covered. The book is wrapped up with two final topics, the use of the Thaler as jewelry and in jewelry making, and the use of the Thaler as currency for the cause of rescue, ransom, and war.
Strong points in the book include extensive photographs and illustrations to aid the text and a thorough history of the coin from inception to modern day. The author's knowledge of the subject is apparent in her writing, which provides for excellent reading value. A possible weakness of the book could stem from her love of the subject. Overall, the book serves to romanticize the history of the coin, providing as the title states "A Silver Legend."
The author supports her book extensively with photographs, historical documents, first hand accounts, and personal experience. A bibliography is provided, which is adequate, but could be more extensive. Footnotes are missing, which could have been used to support historical points in the text, making further research into the subject easier.
This book would be of interest to anyone who is researching the commerce, economy, trade, jewelry production, or currency of the Middle Eastern region during the 18th to 20th Century. A book where so many levels of culture, society, and history are combined under one title is a rare find. Overall, the book deserves an "A", because Semple provides both an excellent read for "popular" history, and an excellent resource for research.

this book is for those coin collectors who specialise in collecting Maundy money and also for those who are interested in the British monarchs from the point of view of how they expressed themselves on coinage. It is a book you should not be without if you have an interest in the subject and how tradition is used to underline institition.

So it took 45 years but at long last we have the official second edition of the title 'So-Called Dollars.' So-Called Dollars are roughly defined as silver dollar sized medals that are not issued as trade tokens or storecards; by schools, coin clubs, the military or political organizations/candidates and have been issued in at least one form of metal. The first book was issued in 1963 by Messers. Hibler and Kappen and listed 1000 different medals each assigned it owns HK number. A sort of cult arose around the book with many collectors attempting to either collect the book (all but impossible) or sections of it. The medals cover a wide panoply of subjects and many are available for surprisingly little money. The problem was that the book was never re-issued so that used copies often sold for above one hundred. Four intrepid collectors banded together at the behest of the original publisher and produced this updated version in paperback (a hardbound deluxe edition was also offered to private subscribers). This version is far superior to the original because it has been able to locate and photograph many of the medals not pictured in the original, it has added some of the metallic varieties not listed in the original and it has added and amended a lot of critical information on the medals. Now there are likely around 1200 official HK numbers listed which makes the hobby at least 20% more fun. The only two complaints I have about this edition are: The cover is made from flimsy paper that will wear out quickly and the greatly expanded index makes it difficult to search for a specific medal by name. Still, this book is definitely the so-called BOMB and you must own it!

This landmark reference was edited by two men, Hibler and Kappen back in 1963. Their stated aim was to catalogue a series of commemorative medals that fit within eight loose rules regarding size, material and subject matter. Roughly speaking the medals fall into three broad categories: commmemorative and exposition medals of national significance, local significance and ersatz monetary issues. The lines are pretty fuzzy though and one is left wondering at times why a particular medal was included. At the same time, because there are only 1000 different items, identified by their Hibler-Kappen (HK) number, one wonders why some obvious candidates were left out. Never mind though, the beauty of this book is that it has never been updated leaving a static body of, for the most part, wonderful medals that a casual collector has every right to expect that he can acquire; essentially collect the book. Well, not actually because some of the medals in the book are unique or near unique, but still one can come very, very close and up until recently this could be done for surprisingly little money. This despite the fact that some of these medals were struck in editions of just a few hundred pieces or even less. This has changed somewhat in the past few years as collector interest in the genre has really taken off, with the body of collectors likely doubling in that time. This has made the prices of these medals escalate which has drawn the attention of dealers so that what used to be considered a junky backwater has become a pretty exciting and profitable sideline for many previously disdainful sellers. In fact, so much enthusiasm has been shown for the category that a new, slightly revised book is slated to be published sometime in 2007 or 2008 with a completely revised book to follow a few years after that. Until then, collectors must use this book. If you have the collecting bug and would like to get involved in something that will have you seeking and finding these things in the most unlikely places, something that will bring joy to your heart when you make a great find that costs you only pennies, and something that will bring you into contact with a bunch of really great, equally nutty people, you have found the book for you.

Forty plus years after this landmark reference was published, this remains the single most authoritative and comprehensive reference book on this fascinating branch of exonumia. Although various attempts have been made to expand and update this reference (via a 24 pps. price supplement in 1984 among others), to date nobody has had the wherewithal to actually produce another book that can supplant this precious resource. This state of affairs actually has its benefits, here's how: The 1962 cut-off date and otherwise rather comprehensive coverage of the genre allows So-called Dollars collectors to actually 'collect the book.' I've been told by a contemporary so-called dollars expert that this now costs six figures to do it right. This book includes many photos of catalogued items, a brief historical background of the circumstances leading to the striking of the medal and mintage and composition numbers. As I write this in 2005, it is still an excellent time to get on board the collecting bus as there are still excellent examples available at good prices in an area of numismatics that is fast being occupied by hard core numismatist purists who increasingly view the coin market as being dominated by speculators, investors and corporate coin retailers.

Contrary to what is stated in the editorial review, this catalog does not include Philippine coins during the spanish colonial period. In fairness to the authors it is stated in the foreword that this catalog deals with Ibero-American coinage. Aside from that omission, this book is worth buying in the sense that if all you collect is Spanish/Portugese Colonial Coins you won't have to buy the Other Standard Catalogs that are divided into centuries as this catalog spans the entire timeline.