Book on Early US currency

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Swervo513, Jun 12, 2019.

  1. Swervo513

    Swervo513 Well-Known Member

    Hi y’all,

    I was wondering if you fine people know of any books specifically on early US currency? I’m mostly looking for info on early colonial coinage up until they started minting official US coins, stopping at flowing hair varieties. Basically, anything between the 1760s to 1793. There seems to be very little compiled info on this era of coinage. I would love a concise book to describe values, composition and even why these coins were minted. Any story behind them is super interesting to me.

    Thanks for your help,
    Larry
     
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  3. NSP

    NSP Well-Known Member

    Off the top of my head, Fractional Money by Neil Carothers may be of some interest to you. It is a Ph.D. thesis about earlier US coins and some of the legislation behind them. You can find it on the Newman Numismatic Portal here: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/521068?page=332
     
  4. Hookman

    Hookman Well-Known Member

    No offense , but you do realize that currency and coins are two different things?
    Are you looking for help with both , or just one or the other?
     
    Jaelus and masterswimmer like this.
  5. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    I don't have anything on currency at all but here's a couple of titles that might help you with coins, idk. :D

    IMG_1451.JPG IMG_1452.JPG
     
  6. Hookman

    Hookman Well-Known Member

  7. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

  8. l.cutler

    l.cutler Member

    The Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins is pretty good. The Redbook also has some pretty good basic information. If you want to get in depth information you would probably have to look into books on particular series of coins. There are individual books on the various state coinages as well as Fugios and other colonial issues.
     
    Randy Abercrombie likes this.
  9. SteveInTampa

    SteveInTampa Always Learning

    Sorry.

    Don’t have much on those shiny metallic discs....
     
  10. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    look for:
    The Early Paper Money of America. Fifth Edition by Eric P. Newman
     
  11. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    The question is about early US currency, not coins...
     
  12. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    Is it though? Read it again.
     
    Seattlite86 likes this.
  13. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    @SteveInTampa my apologies. I apparently can't read.
     
  14. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    It won't cover values, but if you are wanting the history and reasons for the coins the book you want is The Early Coins of America by Sylvester Crosby. (full title is
    The early coins of America and the laws governing their issue. Comprising also descriptions of the Washington pieces, the Anglo-American tokens, many pieces of unknown origin of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the first patterns of the United States mint)
    Fortunately it isn't expensive. First published in 1875 and has been reprinted many many times. It is STILL the standard go to reference for the backstory behind most of the colonials and it does try to cover the different varieties as well. It is available for about $30 or so There is a 1974 reprint on ebay right now for $24 including shipping.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Early-...153508974588?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

    A print on demand copy can be had on abebooks for $16 with free shipping.
    https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22897456915&searchurl=sortby=17&tn=the+early+coins+of+america&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title19

    The print on demand would be cheaper but I would probably go with the ebay one, it's a hardcover and should also arrive faster.

    There are several available on amazon in the low $30's.

    I would also recommend the book I.cuter mentioned The Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins
     
    Randy Abercrombie likes this.
  15. mpcusa

    mpcusa "Official C.T. TROLL SWEEPER"

    I think this thread would be better served in the actual coin forum
    Most guys that visit here are in to currency ( i think theres a bit of
    Confusion in your post "Book on early American currency"
    Should actually say "Book on early American coinage"
     
    Hookman likes this.
  16. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Hookman likes this.
  17. Hookman

    Hookman Well-Known Member


    I like the book but that is a little pricey for me. I'm gonna watch it and others like it and see if I can't get a deal on one.

    Thanks for your reply.
     
    fretboard likes this.
  18. Swervo513

    Swervo513 Well-Known Member

    I’m sorry for the confusion. I am looking for coin info. Not currency. And I want it to focus on pre1793 coins. Thanks for your responses. I’ll check out some of these titles.
     
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