2 comments about Us Gold Counterfeit Detection Guide (Official Whitman Guidebook).

1. This is a better that average book if you are interested in looking for what to look for in a fake coin. There are descent photos and information on tell tale signs. There is no real model to tell you of any specific markings to determine if it is a genuine coin, just what to look for in a fake. Better detail, die marking information and die pairing would have made this a great book. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in stepping into the gold coin market.



2. As a budding gold coin collector, this book is a must have. Currently, I have 4 gold coins in my collection. Two have been graded and are genuine specimens, one was returned counterfeit, and one I have yet to send in. Now, I have a guide to help me screen my coins.
   
   The picture quality alone of the coins shown in this book makes it a buy. They are most helpful in showing you what to look for. Having only heard of the "Omega Man" up to this point, there are a few of those coins pictured in the book.
   
   If only the grading service I use would return coins telling you what makes it a counterfeit like the book shows you.
   
   I rated it at 4 starts because I think there should be more than the 200 pictures. Also, more info on the "Omega Man" and other history of counterfeiting would be nice to have. When was the first "Omega Man" coin discovered?

No comments about Before Writing: Volume 1: From Counting to Cuneiform.

No comments about Numismatic Art in America: Aesthetics of the United States Coinage.

2 comments about The Early Paper Money of America.

1. This is a must for money buffs and the like.



2. 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!

1 comments about So-Called Dollars.

1. 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!

3 comments about Whitman Coin Collecting: Starter Set.

1. This is a nice starter set for anyone just learning about coin collecting. It's a bit more challenging than collecting the state quarters so if this is for a small child they will need some help reading the material and how to manage the coins. Many students in 3rd grade will study "money" as part of the curriculum and this would make a great package for an adult or older child to share with a 3rd grader, but it's probably too much for most 3rd graders on their own. Enjoy!



2. I didn;t receive the items, they said they were shipped to my address at
   work and I never received them. I asked that they be resent. i had gotten these for my three grandboys last christmas and they are enjoying them.



3. Don't pay any attention to the photo of the box. If you want the book, this is the kit for you, but if you really want supplies, go elsewhere. It is very limited, and not at all what the pictures shows.

5 comments about Official Whitman Statehood Quarters Folder: Complete 50 State Set 1999-2008.

1. Good Value. Need to be handle it carefully to prevent the panels from coming apart. However, Elmer's Glue solved that problem (I think permanently).



2. No need for anything more expensive, as this item fulfilled my desires for saving the State quarters just fine and completely.



3. It was a nice product. The only thing that I didn't like was that it was difficult to insert the quarters.



4. I was disappointed in the cost and the size of this product. I could have gotten a better and larger unit for less money from my local bank.



5. I RECOMMEND THESE COLORFUL FOLDERS FOR YOUR STATE QUARTER COLLECTION. IT IS A CONVENIENT SIZE FOR STORAGE AND HANDLING. IT HOLDS THE COINS VERY SECURE AND HAS VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE COINS INSIDE THE FOLDER.

1 comments about Coin Folders Half Dollars (Liberty Walking, 1916-36).

1. Just like the Whitman coin folders from when I was a child, good quality, fair price. Excellent option to hold a modest collection in the building stage, until you're ready to move your collection to a better quality folder such as Dansco.

2 comments about Million Dollar Nickels: Mysteries of the 1913 Liberty Head Nickels Revealed....

1. I am a 48 year old attorney who has collected coins on the side since my paper route days 40 years ago. As a collector, I appreciate the history and lore that accompanies the hobby. Unfortunately, most of my non collector friends think it is akin to watching paint dry. This book is a great example of why non coin collectors SHOULD read stories involving coins. You may find it hard to believe the authors could write 300 pages about a nickel, but it was well done and a very enjoyable read. This is a great book for anyone -- part folk history, part mystery, part treasure hunt -- about one of the most famous coins of all time. A MUST read for collectors and a SHOULD read for everyone else.



2. Hello, I'm Donn Pearlman and I was actively involved in the surprisingly successful search in 2003 for the George O. Walton specimen 1913 Liberty Head nickel. It had been missing from the hobby for more than 40 years; kept in a strongbox with family papers ON THE FLOOR OF A CLOSET FOR DECADES by a family that was mistakently told in 1962 the coin was a fake!
   
   So, I'm more than a bit biased when I say that this book is fantastic. The authors revealed information even I didn't know about the worldwide search. Of course, this wonderful book is much more than just the hunt for the Walton coin. It is a superbly-written numismatic detective story, examining the mysterious circumstances that led to striking the five-known 1913 Liberty Head nickels, and the colorful people who have owned one or more over the years.
   
   Enjoy,
   -donn-
   Donn Pearlman
   American Numismatic Association Board of Governors, 1989 - 1993
   Professional Numismatists Guild, Affiliate Member

5 comments about Obsolete Paper Money: Issued by Banks in the United States 1782-1866: a Study and Appreciation for the Numismatist and Historian.

1. Not what I was looking for. It sounded like there was pricing information in book, but there was none.



2. This will be the authority on broken bank notes and obsolete currency for years to come. Mr. Bowers is no doubt one of the very few individuals in the world that could bring all this material together and make an extremely readable and much needed volume available to numismatists and students of economic history.



3. if you are looking for a great history reference that shows how paper money fits into the history - this is your book, Mr. Bowers does a great job in researching his history and he shows how the currency and banking fit.
   
   If you are looking for a good paper money reference, you will find this book very frustrating to use. As a paper money reference I thought it to be very disorganized and frustrating for me to use. BUt this book is still a great addition to my library.
   
   Coverage of Northeast states like Maine, was excellent and probably better done here than elsewhere.
   What I can't understand is why Mr. Bowers tries to do everything, when there are still books needed in areas where he has the most expertise.
   
   I liked the book.



4. Bowers has compiled a substantial body of material that traces the evolution of American currency from the wampum used by native Americans and early settlers to the broken bank notes that effectively disappeared after the Civil war. Even a tome this size is unable to cover that much ground in any real depth, but Bowers makes intelligent decisions about when to go into depth and when to trace the superficial edges. On the whole, this is an invaluable resource for the beginning collector who wants a lot of information in a single place.



5. This book is not your typical data book with only pictures and current values for each note (such as Haxby, etc). It is a history book of many notes issued in the United States. It covers the years 1782 - 1866 and is mainly focused on "obsolete notes."
   
   For those who only collect notes as a commodity, this is not the book for you. For those who collect to own a piece of history, this IS a great book for you. Given the large task that the author had, he has done a very nice job. If he were to cover every detail of every note, he would never finish. However, the final work is very nice!
   
   I give it 4.5 stars and not 5 because he did not (and could not) cover all notes and history.