4 comments about Roman coins and their values.

1. This is a standard reference work. Its value does not lie in its estimations of values, but in the well-chosen range of coins shown and identified, and in its long-time use by scholars and numismatists as a comparative tool (giving the Sear # for coins to identify them is standard practice in the field).



2. For how much the name "Sear" comes up in connection to ancient coins, I had very high expectations for this book. Unfortunately, they weren't quite met.

   In the edition that I own (2nd), there are not very many illustrations, except at the end of the book. The rest of the pictures are just drawings of the coins. I do not know if this was remedied in later editions, though I don't think that it was.

   Also, the prices (in British Pounds) are given in just one grade of each coin.

   Still, one can judge from the prices the relative rarity of the coin. Add that to the fact that this is the book that EVERYONE refers to, that that in itself makes it quite valuable.

   A very brief history is given on each emperor or wife. There also are additional histories on certain periods of Roman history (The Tetrarchy of Diocletian, for example), which are both helful and interesting. Equally important is the quick overview of Roman coins found in the beginning of the book.

   Sear will cost you a chunk of money, and while quite helpful, it won't answer your every question. Still, if you are collecting Roman coins, you need this book, if for no other reason than that everyone else has it and will quote it.




3. David Sear is probably the best known living authority on ancient coins, especially Roman coins. If a collector only owned one book on Roman coins, this would be the one. However, the values reported in his book for coins (supposedly those that grade approximately "Very Fine") only roughly correlate with market prices. Coin dealers often like to quote prices from Sear's book, especially if the book price exceeds the normal market value.



4. Though it is impossible to contain all the Roman coins in a single volume, this is the best single book on coins and their approximate values (given in British pounds).

No comments about 25 Cent Canadian Folder Vol. 5.

No comments about Looking Through Lincoln Cents: A Chronology of a Series.

No comments about The rare silver dollars dated 1804 and the exciting adventures of Edmund Roberts.

No comments about Large Size Silver Coins of the World.

No comments about The Last Goodbye.

5 comments about The Comprehensive Guide to Soviet Orders and Medals.

1. If you have any interest in collecting Soviet orders and medals, this is the only book you'll need. Every other reference on this subject I've read isn't even close to this one in detail, information, history and variants. From the earliest days of the revolution to the fall of the USSR, this book has detailed info for them all.
   
   My only complaint is that it's a bit outdated when describing known fakes. For example, for the Order of Nevsky (probably the one medal who's value is increasing the fastest) the author lists no known fakes of sufficient quality to consider. That may have been true then, but not today. I've seen fake Nevsky's that are completely indistinguishable from the real thing, even when compared side-by-side. If it's worth enough money, someone will fake it.



2. This is the best book on medal collecting out there. Period. Combining detailed, color pictures, specific award criteria and a comprehensive thoroughness it easily outdistances any other medal collectors guide in *any* field (Third Reich, British, American, Imperial German (would that there was one even half as good as this)). Only Previtera's "The Iron Time" can match it in quality and "The Iron Time" is limited to investigating one award (The Prussian Iron Cross) so it has a very narrow focus despite it being a five star book in it's own right. Schmitt & McDaniel's book has set a very high bar that any "comprehensive" medal collector's book issued in the future will have a struggle to match. Not only that the publication of this book helps legitamize the collecting of the "evil empire's" awards unlike any other publication from the past. Well worth it's price.



3. Being a relative newcomer to collecting Soviet Militaria, but collecting German Militaria for years, I found the book to be the best all around book on medals that I have ever read. This book details in very clear color photographs the intricacies of the medals of the Soviet Union. I would recommend this book strongly for anyone who is interested in Soviet Militaria or even Militaria in general as it is an excellent resource book.



4. The Comprehensive Guide to Soviet Orders and Medals is the bestbook on the market so far, and if you are a collector in this field, I strongly recommend you buy it. It's good - very good actually - but it's not comprehensive. McDaniel and Schmitt try to list all known different types and variations, and this is of course, almost impossible. But it's a start. And it's needed. Furthermore they illustrate their descriptions with very detailed pictures - that's excellent! The only problem with this kind of book is lack of information, but I'm sure they are working on it. Especially their information on fakes needs an update. In all case this is a book to buy...



5. An excellent reference guide, but NOT comprehensive. The pictures are beautiful, detailed, in colour and comes in plenty - this is necessary for the serious collector. Their grading system (both concerning rarity and different variations) is usefull but NOT comprehensive. If you have travelled in Eastern Europe as a collector, you know much more about rarity and variations than they do. Furthermore, their variation-system is only really usefull if your counterpart has read the book. Say, does The Order of the Red Banner Variation 3, Type 2 means anything to you? Their rarity-system may be helpfull as a guideline - not as a fact. I'm not saying their information is incorrect, it's just that there is a difference between living in Europe and in the US. It's probably a matter of distance and therefore price and rarity. What is really good about this book is the information about the fakes. It's very usefull (and unfortunately VERY brief) but of course outdated the moment you get it. But again, use it as a guide - don't trust everything you read. Remember that your common sense is your most important tool. Conclusion: You will not find a lot of books on this subject in english so I recommend you buy it, while it's still in stock. At present it's the best buy on the market. If you consider buying it, remember to check their Newsletter with the latest updates (and it's allways about 2-3 months delayed) at Historicalresearch.com

No comments about Guide to Coin Collecting (Collector's Series).

No comments about Queen Elizabeth II: A Portrait in Stamps.

1 comments about Indian Peace Medals in American History.

1. AWESOME - it doesn't get much better. Excellent photos and text. This is the ONE book that you must own if interested in United States Indian Peace medals.