Coins Books

I do not use these words lightly, but, in my opinion, this should be considerd the definitive reference on the subject. This volume is profusely illustrated with photogaphs of actual notes; many photos are in color. The book is well organized and is not limited to the paper money of the thirteen original colonies/states, but also includes sections dealing with Florida, Louisiana, the Northwest Territory, and Vermont. Naturally, an extensive section deals with Continental Currency.This book, the new 5th Edition, is the work of decades of research, which is reflected in the author's discussions of multiple historical avenues. By this I mean discussions of not only the notes themselves but also their evolution and use in the colonies, perhaps better described as an introduction to Colonial economics. Counterfeiting, valuation, relative purchasing power, printing styles and processes, and the various signers of respective notes, are all discussed. I must state that while this is an incredibly detailed book, it is also a very accessible book. Both novices to the field, as well as experienced collectors, will appreciate that the vast amount of information contained within it, while scholarly, does not bog down into mind numbing prose.The adage, "Buy the book, before the Note", represents some of the soundest advice that can be given to any collector. For those interested in early American paper money, this is the book to buy!!!

This is a must for money buffs and the like.

Wonderful pictures, and even identification of the signers of the bills. Some signatures are hard to make out even if clearly written in dark ink due to the style of writting, but are identified here. Worth every penny!

FUG 10 is one of the best new genealogy mysteries I have read in the last several years. Osman's story is based on his experience of researching his own Pennsylvania ancestors. The story is suspenseful, historical, modern, emotional, and witty. These attributes make for any good mystery. What sets apart a great genealogy mystery for me are the methods of investigation. Do the methods of investigating the ancestors involved in the story make sense? Are they creative? Are they based in what is available to a real genealogist? Osman's experience shines through. His fictional Rhone family understands investigating the past requires not just collecting dates, names and places but understanding the events surrounding our ancestors lives and creating hypothesis that can be tested by uncovering not just one, but several pieces of evidence that confirm the hypothetical.
FUG 10 introduces us to the history of several Pennsylvania counties and paints a story of typical migration, marriage and family relationships right after the Revolution. The stories of these ancestors could be the stories of our ancestors. This fictional history creates the mystery for the Rhone family and ultimately the reader too. The Rhone's know what all genealogist know-genealogy is addictive. As a confirmed addict I was totally drawn into Osman's mystery. I tried to stay one step ahead of the Rhone's with my methods of historic investigation, but they opened my eyes to several new sources. The story had me reading about my own Pennsylvania ancestors as I read about the Rhone family. When fiction meets reality a reader not only enjoys a story, but also relates to a story. Osman has written such a believable and enjoyable mystery that I'm looking forward to the next brick wall his fictional genealogists break down.

If you like history, you will love this novel. A great mixture of fiction and history that captures you and holds your interest from the beginning.

A very interesting Historical Novel which combines mystery with history.
The book is crafted in a way that you can not anticipate the ending and ties in generations of a family starting during the Revolutionary War and ending with the current generation.

I could not put it down until I finished it.

Hugh Shull's book on Southern Currency is an excellent addition to reference material relating to the Civil War period. His knowledge of this subject is very helpful to anyone collecting or studying currrency of this time. He has compiled an excellent guide of photos and estimated values covering this field. This book is a positive addition to anyones currency reference collection.

Hugh Shull has done a superb job in assembling vast information on Southern States currency. This high quality book has excellent descriptions and photos and is an essential reference book for all collectors of Southern States obsolete currency. Especially helpful are the rarity ratings and the estimated values.

For info for obsolete currency, this is your book to turn to! With great detailed pictures and descriptions, you can't go wrong with this as a reference guide to collecting. I find myself looking back to it often for reference, info and to look for my next purchase for my collection!

Schmandt-Besserat is not only an acknowledged leader in epigraphy, she is one of the only linguists to study the slowly evolving history of the assyro-babylonian literary culture. This book, and any other by this author, is strongly reccommended for any library or archeological department.

This book will take you through the ruins of an ancient city in Mesopotamia and then will explain the meaning of certain tablets and clay coins found there. The author is very clear in her explanations, there are plenty of pictures and graphics which make your understanding of the text easier. This book is for those who like reading scholarly material because it is very concise and precise on the subject but it could seem dry reading to those who prefer the material to be presented in a more entertaining way.
I found it very interesting, and it helped me understand the transition from letters to numbers. I loved it!

Holy Moley! By Internet standards, the first (and only, until mine) review of this book is of a seemingly archaeological date, seven years ago, that is. Well, I suppose this review won't make much difference when (if) it's read seven years from now! This book is, obviously, a work by a scholar, which is an entirely different category of "being smart." We don't call upon scholars to fix our plugged-up toilets or change the flat tire on our car or restore the electricity, but, if you know just enough history to be grateful to live in our consumer-friendly epoch, you'll be grateful that some out there have dedicated their lives to recording and analyzing the long process of human growth, and the growth of civilization. You can have your Back To Nature fantasies--I'll take the hot shower and electric coffee maker, thank you very much. This particular work, apparently, is a condensation of a two-volume scholarly work, one which, I am sure, that I will never read. But the current volume (the second half of which I read last night, while eating fancy crackers and drinking humble red wine--giving me a connection, I felt, to the agrarian Past of Sumer and Uruk, etc.) is about as good as it gets for laymen (me). For me, it's almost like a religious text, transcending race, language, skin color, nationalism; it's like a Time Machine that takes you back within the range of a subtle sniff of our "egalitarian" prehistoric ancestors; "egalitarian" meaning a small-population culture where you pretty much fed yourself and participated in the group without the framework of authority other than myth and ritutal. A fun read for those who have exhausted the cultural potentialities of SIMPSONS reruns. I wholeheartedly agree with the author's thesis that counting preceded writing. In fact, it was my hunch--from my own reading and thinking--that this was so that prompted me to search for a book with this theory. It just makes sense. I highly doubt that any early resident of a city started the road to high civilization talking about "ennui" or "existentialism." They talked about, "Hey! I paid you this much last month. And you owe me this much tomorrow." Makes sense to me. Just the evidence-supported argument alone that breaking the counting-beyond-three barrier took thousands of years was worth the cover price to me. The single concept (and revelation) that in no way is the faculty of counting beyond three inate to brain function and hence, inate to our modern minds, is simply stunning to me, and adds a dose of gratitude to my daily life, a realization that makes it easier to laugh off the troubles of modern life. We owe so much to the hundreds of generations of men and women who have gone before us, most just living day to day. A good read, especially when enjoyed with fancy crackers and red wine...and about forty years' worth of reading, living and reflecting. So far as what the next review will address: I ain't holding my breath--and that is a very archaelogical attitude.

This book is a fascinating look into the life of a mostly unknown, but yet very important man in the history of Nevada. As Crawford's life unfolds within the pages of this book, we readers learn just how vital the Carson City Mint's success was to the overall runnings of the city it resided in and in the financial status of the entire state of Nevada. As the book clearly shows, James Crawford, during his superintendency of the mint, took on many challenges facing the mint during rough times, and handled those challenges not only efficently, but with a kind and generous spirit. Author Goe shows readers that without the Carson City Mint, the city itself would have been nothing more than a supply station for the miners of the Comstock Lode. James Crawford was truly responsible for putting Nevada's capital city on the map where it has remained ever since. We highly recommend this book to all those who enjoy United States and/or Nevada History, or those interested in numismatics, for it is a true pleasure to read and contains a wealth of information to offer to it's readers.
Richard Kelly & Nancy Oliver, authors of "A Mighty Fortress...the stories behind the 2nd San Francisco Mint", and "Sentiments & Aspirations of a 19th Century Tradesman" (A biography of Joseph Breck Harmstead).

I just finished reading "James Crawford, Master of the Mint at Carson City - A Short Full Life" and have come to one of two conclusions; 1.) The author did an extremely thorough job of research, or; 2.) He has a time machine. Simply stated, there is no other book I have ever read or heard about that minutely details those lives & times of that particular era like this book does. "Attention Hollywood...there's a great movie here."
Although the story revolves around the remarkable James Crawford, everyone from mint workers, journalists, politicians, stage coach drivers and even U.S. presidents are included as Rusty Goe captures that special window in history like no one else has. Within the pages of this book you will share all the disappointments & tragedies as well as all the triumphs & victories of James, his family & friends and a multitude of others locally, nationally and internationally who made those times what they were.
The first section of the book chronicles James' birth in Kentucky and childhood in rural Illinois, his adventuresome trip out west as a young man, his early "character building" years in the California gold rush towns of the western Sierra Mountains and his early years in Lyon County Nevada. The second section chronicles James' Carson City years (1874-1885). Rusty carefully crafts the short but all important first section much like a 5-star chef finely prepares a savory multi-course meal in order that the ultimate feast (the "Carson City Years" section) can be enjoyed to its fullest.
The most important aspect of the book is how Rusty captures the very essence of an "unsung hero" James Crawford. His strength and courage in the face of adversity is the stuff legends are made of. He was tenacious yet gentle, caring, loving and jovial. His honesty and integrity were above reproach as Rusty's book so aptly reveals. James is the ideal role model for modern day politicians and businessmen. Today's world thirsts for people of such character. Month by month, year by year, you will taste the food, feel the sting of the winter snow and the heat of those mid-summer days, enjoy wonderful springtime, hear the music and share in the mirth & laughter from the many grand gala's and balls. Read on and you will hear the freshly made coins clanging into their bins, smell the acrid fumes from the mint smokestack. You will share day to day experiences of the mint workers. You will go hunting, fishing, competition rifle shooting, you will undergo courtroom dramas, suffer political frustrations, you will laugh, you will cry, you will virtually relive that time in astonishing clarity as if actually there. In this regard, Rusty's book is unique as the famous 1873-CC without arrows liberty seated dime! Perhaps Rusty does indeed have a time machine.
"Wanna go for a ride?......read this book!"

I've just finished reading this spellbinding tale of James Crawford, and I must tell you how fortunate I feel to be able to "sit at the feet" of Rusty Goe as he expands on his wonderful book, "The Mint on Carson Street." Because this second volume is not a follow-up, but rather an expansion of that first tome. I doubt if there is a man alive today who knows as much about the Carson City Mint and the period which these two books cover. If you are interested in coin collecting, these books will tell you all you need to know about one of the most desirable and profitable niches of the hobby you can explore. If you are interested in politics, these books will allow you entry into the backroom deals and squabbles that dominated the era. If you are interested in the monetary history of the United States during the twenty years following the Civil War, these books will lay the groundwork for any study of money and the emergence of the Western States. And if you are interested in the social history of the people of the West, their concerns, their personalities, and their way of life, this book about James Crawford will take you inside that world in a way that will amaze you.

This is a book that invites you to give yourself over the customs and mores of the times, while leaving you with a desire to read every chapter with a notebook by your side. It is that packed with detail. You could become more versed in this era than many others if you were to do nothing other than read and study the original source documents Rusty Goe reproduces in this life of Mr. Crawford. But there is really so much more in this book. Be prepared to enter the world of a romantic and exciting bygone era, because Mr. Goe has steeped himself in it and writes the story as an oral historian would--there are lots of detours and meanderings in these pages, but all are there in order to flesh out the person of James Crawford and Carson City and the Mint and the mood and details of a person and a time that we could never be able to experience in today's world.

How Mr. Goe completed this book in three years is hard to understand--there is so much in it. Although I've just finished it, I'm already going back through it and re-reading sections of chapters in order to take in the details once again.

If you are interested in any of the areas I've mentioned, or if you just want to spend time with the master storyteller of this era, do yourself a favor and read "James Crawford: Master of the Mint at Carson City: A Short Full Life." To travel through these times with such an engaging and genial guide is a treasure the equal of the rarest of any coin minted at Carson City. And that's saying something! Thank you, Mr. Goe!

Doc's first published mystery takes the reader into the world of Segeant Jack Vu, an Air Force investigator sent to track down a possible killer, a special OPS member who disappeared and was considered dead. As a Vietnamese American, Jack finds himself needing to handle brash American women and superior officers who have secret agendas. This story is both thoughtful and fast-paced, a pleasure to read. A scene with Jack and an amorous, one-eyed alligator in a seedy bathroom is a classic. Doc's background in the military serves him well in this novel.

"I am a contant reader of murder mystery books and have been for years. Patters, Cornwell, Brown, JD Robb, you name it and I read it.

Doc's book is great, just great. There are several things I like about this book. One is the format that it is printed in. I really like the size of the book and the print. I know that sounds silly but since I do a lot of reading in bed before I go to sleep, I find the size of most paperbacks awkward and some of the print requires I wear TWO sets of glasses. I'm really getting old I suppose.

The development of his characters is just right. Not long and drawn out to the point that I skip over much of it to move on to the story line. Vu is an interesting character, one that you would not expect to develop a love interest, but Doc does it well and for all the right reasons, the things that he and Betty have in common. I hate Gates, what a pig she is but I suppose that is the intent Doc had in mind. I also like the fact that he keeps the character's names simple and easy to recall as one moves through the story.

I'm giving this book a "thumbs up". For his first published book, I believe Doc has a good career ahead of him in the novel arena. I'm looking forward to his next one. Just one thing, can he get famous quick, mass produced and get into Barnes and Noble? $24.95 for a paperback could break me at the rate I read them. But it was worth every cent to have one of his first books autographed! It will go in my "keeper" library." - Margie Grimm, Founder, Face by Design, San Jose, California.

I just finished The Killer Coin, which I couldn't put down once starting it. It was, truly, a Killer Book. As it happened, my daughter had just given me a John Grisham book to read. (The Rainmaker) and I had just finished reading about 3 chapters. Was kind of plodding through it, was kind of enjoying it, but read it only when there was nothing else to do. Then I opened yours, and here's what I found:

Not only intriguing characters, but skillfully woven plot lines, with either a surprise, or a "Duh", why didn't I think of that" moment around every corner. The characters were "real", actually, rather than obvious fabrications, the pace was quick and the plot facinating. It was obvious that the author was either quite familiar with all those places/circumstances mentioned, or had done superb research, neither or which cramped his style.

As an ex-sailor/SCUBA diver, I particularly enjoyed your ocean passages. I liked Vu, enjoyed it all. And I still haven't gotten back to that John Grisham book, because this week's Time Magazine just showed up. But, I'm passing The Killer Coin on to my daughter, for sure.

It was a complete treat! This oughta be a Killer Movie!
No S--T! - Doris Colmes, Author of Iron Maiden, Portland, Oregon

This story, set in Tanzania in the 1960's, is about a boy who wants a bicycle to help his mother carry loads of produce to the market. The boy saves up his money to buy the bicycle, occasionally getting the money out of his secret box, putting it into neat piles, and counting it up.

There are a couple of places in the book where the boy is laughed at as he tries to accomplish his goal. The reader feels for the boy as he goes to the market to buy the bike and is laughed at because he doesn't have enough money. The author helps the reader to understand that there may be obstacles that you have to overcome in order to be successful.

A good picture book to use with 3rd and 4th graders to discuss character traits, cause and effect, sequential details, plot. Drawing conclusions- at the very end of the book it shows the boy counting up his money again- students can conclude that he will buy his mother a cart for her load. Themes in the book: patience, perseverance, helping others, determination.

The young boy in this story shows exceptional selflessness and a touching concern for his mother's well-being when his dream is to get a bicycle so that he can help her carry their load of goods to market. Truly a wonderful storyline.

The illustrations are superb; not only do they accurately depict village life, but they are simply beautiful in their own right, and convey the emotion of the text, for example, the look on the father's face as the boy falls off the bicycle.

The familial love in this story is extraordinary, without being the least bit saccharine. A gem.

This book is so beautifully illustrated and written. The story line of saving money for a desired purchase (a red and blue bike), took me back to my own childhood. Readers can feel the child's disappointment over not having enough money. As a wonderful addition, the child wants to save for a bike in order to help his mother carry her heavy loads. This was a truly enjoyable read.

Gone are the days of thoughtless coin purchases, and carefree days of yore. Today, the average Joe Numismatist faces a staggering array of crooks out to bilk him of his hard earned cash, by selling recently manufactured numismatic forgeries. Mr. Larson write very intelligently, with wit and humor! I found this book to be not only fun to read, but as much of a page turner as any I have ever read! Bravo sir! I will buy you a cup of coffee should you venture into my neck of the woods. I will guarantee any prospective reader that his book will inform, educate, enlighten and scare the pants off you. You will never look at a rare coin the same way again. Rated 8 stars.

A must read for anyone who buys coins: dealer or collector.
Very insightful and a much needed tool for the industry. There has been nothing quite like this. Nice back cover short reviews by Jim Halperin, Ken Bressett and Mark Salzberg. This book is major league.

Covers: Alteration (tooling, adding mint marks); Casting (centrifugal); False Dies (engraving tools, from electroplates, from casts, explosive impact); Collars; Planchets; Striking (hammering jigs and the 'gravity hammer'); and Wear/Patina.

Although written in the style of a "how-to" manual for replica and clandestine workshops, the book's target audience is collectors and authenticators. To employ Mr. Larson's techniques for crime you'd need to know the basics of precious metal casting, tool and die machining, gunsmithing, and numismatics. For readers without a metal lathe but with a serious interest in authentication and forgery-fighting, the book will provide an understanding of the covert minting process.

I was most impressed by Larson's treatment of the manufacture of steel dies through explosive impact copying. His procedure involves modifying shotguns to drive cast hubs into annealed dies. Larson's diagrams are explicit enough to convince the numismatist that explosive copying is practical. Details only of use to criminals, such as the type and quantity of gunpowder to use, are deliberately withheld from the reader.

Larson quotes an anonymous authenticator who examined 114 1916-S quarter eagles during the 1980s. 56% of them turned out to be fake! Hi-volume forgers in the Middle East and the Orient *already know* many of Larson's techniques. _Numismatic Forgery_ may provide a few useful tips to jewelers and machinists independently turning to crime, but the primary value of the book is to educate collectors in the characteristics of the illicit workshop.

This book, simply put, is an absolute neccessity for all coin collectors. With Kenneth Bresset editing the book and Q. David Bowers narrating it, the book has to be awesome. It has, among many other things, The basic ANA Grading techniques, Key to official ANA Grading Standards: Circulation Strike Coins; Key to official ANA Grading Standards: Proof Coins, Advanced Grading Techniques, A closer focus on certain aspects of grading and the official ANA grading standards for each coin type. From AG-3 to MS-70. It also has notes that warn you about different things to look for in certain types of coins. Buy this book, you definately will not be disappointed.

Easy to understand and use. Photos extremely helpful. Essential tool for novice and experienced collector alike.

EXCELLENT book for those trying to learn to grade there coins. I HIGHLY reccomend this item. Details every grade, and what characteristics it take for the coin to make the grade.

The Other Side of the Coin makes us step back and rethink previously held views in a straight forward, common sense approach. Did we get these views from our parents, our church, our government, the TV? It makes us ask ourselves why we hold on to them and if they are still valid.

A "must read" for those who want to be informed and challenged.

Made me laugh. Barbra Alexander takes a whip and a chair and tames those silly notions that money is sacred.

The Other Side of the Coin is an empowering book that cuts through veils of financial deception in a frank and open manner. I recommend this book to anyone who is seeking a basic understanding of the economic realities that shape our world. The contents are categorized into ten chapters that stand on their own. This book has been a valuable addition to my library; it is set up for quick reference and hasn't been given the opportunity to collect dust on my shelf. Lest I forget to mention humor, let me now say that while reading this book, Barbra Alexander`'s antics brought me to tears of laughter from cover to cover. With ample personality, Alexander holds no punches as she swiftly points out the flaws of our credit crazed economy. Whether it be corporate bean counters or bumbling governmental bureaucrates, the author dishes out honest criticisms where they are due. The Other Side of the Coin embodies an independent spirit that is all to often excluded from cultural and economic debates.