It is a very good introductory book. However, it is lacking when it comes to variety attribution -- Rick's other guides are better for that. So if you're looking for good background on the series, that's the book to get, but if you're interested in attribution, get his earlier works, IMO. All of them are really well done books, and if you really like the series, you should consider getting them all. Hope this helps...Mike (who owns all of Rick's books)
In case you didn't know, Rick Snow's book Guide Book of Flying Eagles, etc. is now in its second edition with more and updated information, so be sure to look for the new one. And if you bring it to a show where Rick sets up, I believe he will sign it for you! I highly recommend Making the Grade (yes, put out by Coin Values) as a must have in learning to grade many U.S. series of coins. It has the best photos showing high wear points on coins, and is easy to follow. And I just finished reading World's Greatest Mint Errors - a hard bound coffee-table sized book that has the most amazing photographs of the most amazing error coins - an absolutely intriguing and fascinating book to read, really and truly! p.s. do you see a trend here - I like to look at the pictures so I don't have to read the text!
Not looking for anything on attribution, just maybe a background on the series, and how to properly grade one, as I am lost on this series.. LOL I just thought it would be smart to buy the book, before I buy my coin
Just ordered “The Complete Guide to Franklin Half Dollars” by Rick Tomaska Should arrive in a day or two.
I think it was at the Pittsburgh ANA show where this happened. This dealer asked if I wanted to see the 1849 Mormon Gold from the Numismatic Forgery book which he had on display. Before I could answer, he held it up and it slipped from his grasp. It hit the floor and proceeded to bounce down the aisle. His quick comment was that it is only a forgery. Some things in life you can never forget. Very best regards, collect89
Thanks! Now a little later I need to get a guide to morgans, and 20th century gold... Too bad on those occasions I bought the coin before the book! (But I made out okay) Thanks Rusty
Today I was reading Numismatic Photography by Mark Goodman. Very helpful book about photographing coins.
I just started James Rollins' new book "The Last Oracle" and noticed it has a numismatic twist to it (sorta). A man dies in Grey's (main character) arms, and drops an ancient Greek coin, obverse DIVA FAUSTINA, reverse temple supported by 6 pillars with Greek letter epsilon(E) in centre. Don't know anymore (haven't gotten any further), so I guess I will leave you hanging.
Rusty, I read the first 25 pages of that book, and read the whole history of the Flying Eagle Cent, and many great men who had influences on coins, like Anthony C Paquet and James Longacre, and of course Christian Gobrecht, and how they all had a little to do with the flying eagle small cent, and I even read about who the eagle possibly could be, Peter the mint mascot I've learned a heck of a lot, and still got plenty of pages to go! I highly recommend "A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents" to ANYONE!
Ive read that and enjoyed it. Currently I'm still reading a guide book to the guide book. ( I'm a slow reader with no time!)
Recently read books Good Money by George Selgin The Devils Workshop by Adolf Burger Counterfeiter: How a Norwegian Jew Survived the Holocaust by Moritz Nachtstern Krugers Men by Lawrence Malkin Operation Bernhard by Anthony Pirie Good Money deals with the British economy and the factors that lead to the rise of the private coiners, counterfeiters, and the privates token coinage from the 1775 to 1820 period The other four books deal with Operation Bernhard, the Nazi plan of counterfeiting British pounds during the second world war with the aim of undermining the British economy. Krugers Men mostly deals with the plan behind the operation, the people involved, how it was carried out and how it wound down. Operation Bernhard deals more with the counterfeits themselves, how they were used, what they were used for and by whom. The other two are first hand accounts from inside the operation by two of the Jewish prisoners who were actually involved with the counterfeiting in block 19 in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Adolf Burger is the last surviving member of the Operation Bernhard counterfeiters and was a consultant on the 2007 Academy Award winning film The Counterfeiters that was based on Operation Bernhard.