I wish my daughter was available because i don't wish to get anyone into trouble. I have for many years heard about a fellow named Augustus G.Heaton who is considered by many to be the fellow who kicked off collecting coins by mintmark. Circa 1893 he published a list of 17 reasons to collect coins this way. I have been a big mintmark guy for many years. Imagine my surprise last night. Baker Mayfield went down with a shoulder injury and so i decided to read my new book curtesy of @KBBPLL . Page 23 begins the Heaton list of reasons. I tried to get a few pics. but hope this does not violate some sort of publishing rule.
Some comments like there not being a need someday for mintmarks didn't pan out but his comments on how these coins help explain the course of America's development are spot on. james
I'm curious what he means by #7 - dies used at the branch mints "which never served in the Philadelphia coinage" and should no longer be collected as "mere varieties." As far as your copyright concerns, I believe there is an exception for educational purposes, and you're certainly not trying to profit by using the images. I'm sure mentioning that the book is Bowers' Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins (available from Whitman) would help. Edit (again) - I could not find the ad in the May 1893 Numismatist archive on the ANA site. I'm guessing the last pages of that issue got omitted.
