No comments about Scott 2008 US First Day Cover Catalogue & Checklist (Scott Us First Day Cover Catalogue & Checklist).

3 comments about History Of The United States Mint and Its Coinage (History of the U. S. Mint and Its Coinage).

1. Hard to say anything bad about this--a great work with lots of engaging information about the history of how our coins are made at the various mints. Numerous side-bars add value, although do tend to be a little confusing somethings. Very comprehensive, belongs on every serious numistmatist's bookshelf. Great book, nice binding, great information!



2. The "History Of The United States Mint and Its Coinage" ia an excellent coffee table book. Good information, easy reading, and beautiful illustrations for an unbeatable price.
   Recommended for kids & adults interested in learning about the US history through coinage.
   Enjoy!



3. The book takes you through a tour of US mint & coin history. The information is more broad than deep. It provides lots of interesting information in small chunks. Each writeup is 1-6 pages in length centered around a particular mint, person, coin, or event. I really enjoyed this book.

No comments about Warman's U.S. Coins & Currency Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warmans U S Coins and Currency Field Guide).

3 comments about How Writing Came About.

1. 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!



2. 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.



3. 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.

1 comments about Indian Head Cents Folder 1857-1909 (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. This folder is an excellent holder for your coins. Beginners can see progress very quickly which will pique there interest in coin collecting even more.

1 comments about Sacagawea Dollar Folder.

1. Whitman Coin Folders, long known for quality, archival products, continues its legacy with the release of the Sacagawea Dollars coin folder. The folder includes a brief, four paragraph history of the newly minted dollar coin as well as room to store thirty-six of the coins. All collectors anticipate the release of a new product, and the Sacagawea Dollar is sure to pique the interest of collectors old and new. The Whitman folder provides an economical, practical way to store these new coins.

3 comments about The Official Red Book a Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Values (Official Red Books).

1. This book is great for the beginner or the advanced collector. It is well organized so you can skip over the chapters that do not interest you. If you are looking to become a specialist in Buffalo or Jefferson Nickels, this book is for you. It covers history and technical details of each series. In addition, each year and mint mark has a separate section detailing collecting strategies and information specific to that issue. Grading standards for each series is also covered in great detail.



2. It was a splendid idea for Whitman to combine Jefferson and Buffalo Nickels into one guide as it is a logical progression from one series to the next (usually in reverse order). The beauty of this book is that it is that it breaks down each year in the series with a the kind of data that one really cares about; strike quality in the case of Buffaloes; Step data for Jeffersons; major die varieties in both series. This book is small enough and helpful enough so that one would not feel self-conscious taking it with him to a coin show for helpful consultation. I am less familiar with Buffs than I am with Jeffs so I'll confine my criticism to the Jefferson discussion and that is with the frequency data of 5 and 6 Full Step coins. I find this data to be far too generous for the following reasons: 1) The number is a hypothetical count on freshly minted coins and the reality is that most of the coins in the issue will not have countable full step cartridges due to wear; 2) Authors do not take into account hits which render the step count meaningless. In other words, in the real world one is simply not going to find full step coins, free of hits and bridges at the rate the editors claim. It is helpful, though, that the editors of this guide quote heavily from Nagengast which until now has done the most exhaustive published study of Jeffersons. I feel confident relying on the Whitman guide knowing that the editors of it studied Nagengast. As to the values charts that accompany each coin, these are definitely helpful if not dispositive but should be used in the context of the coin market at time of publication. Price swings are dramatic depending upon whether the coin market is doing well or poorly. All in all, this is a top notch guide and actually the best one on nickels I've encountered precisely because of its compact size, good coverage, dual coverage. There are better Buffalo books out there, Lange's third edition comes to mind, but for the money this is definitely top of the food chain.



3. A Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels is the eighth entry in the Bowers Series of numismatic references: while general-interest holdings might find it too specialized a reference, any library strong in coin collecting must have this. Fine historical background accompanies detailed high-resolution enlargements of coins and discussions of mintages, market values in different grades, and even a reference to error coins. The chronological arrangement and discussion lends not only to quick identification, but to quick assessment of background history and values, making for a 'must' any serious coin collector needs.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about 50 State Quarters CollectorKids Guide Handbook and Coin Album (Collectorkids Guides).

1. After reading all of the opinions concerning this book, I thought I was receiving a collector's item for which I could store my state quarters. However, I was extremely shocked and disappointed when I received this book and found no coin holders. My main reason for purchasing the book was for the coin holders. I would have thought there was a mistake in shipping had I not received 2 from 2 different companies with the same missing item.



2. I love this book. It will come in handy when my child has to do a report, on a certain state. We know of several people who would like to buy this book, but can't find it any where. Can anyone please help me, with some locations to find it? Every time I find it in the internet, it is out of stock. I live in Iowa. I need 5 more.
   Thanks,
   Treasa Vander Hart



3. I purchase this book over 2 years ago. All my friends asked me where did you purchase this book. I purcahsed it a Target. This book is very educational not only to me but my seven year old son. He is currently in the first grade and on different social studies homework assignment he needs information regarding the states. He always says, "Mom, I need to go to the Library!" I tell him, "No,everything that you need, is in your book!" I'm glad I bought the book when I saw it because the only way to purchase now, is on-line.



4. My twin 8 year olds each have one of these books and they are terrific - both educational and fun. The children anticipate the arrival of each new coin and love to learn about the state/the design choices and also spend some time on the facts of the other states each time we use it.



5. The book has a page for each state, plus a page for the new 'gold' dollar, and a few facts on the history of US coins. For each state, there is one die-cut coin holder (2 for the dollar coin); some of these holders required great effort to get the coin to fit. The book also has a few pages of games...although one must note the error on page 70, "...America RECEIVED its independence from Great Britain." In reality, America DECLARED its independence from Great Britain in 1776, fought for 6 years, then negotiated for two. Congress ratified the treaty to end the war in January 1784. I hope next edition of this book corrects this error.

No comments about Washington Quarters: State Collection, Vol. 2: 2004-2008.

2 comments about Strike It Rich With Pocket Change.

1. I love this book, It is a great beginners book for coin collectors, easy to read and understand. Only down side is no color pics, all pics are Black and White..



2. This was a very helpful book,written by experts.
   I was able to increase my knowledge of variety coins
   and have some new directions in my collecting.