If others here at CT have noticed some editing errors or typos in the country listings in Krause Publications' Standard Catalog of World Coins, please post them here. I'd like to know just how pervasive these are. Here's mine: I’ve noticed a rather bizarre error in the South Korea section of the "2001-present" 2018 Standard Catalog of World Coins’ (a.k.a. the “Krause catalog”). It is the KM#33.2 variety and KM#103 variety 10-Won listing. The Korean-coin catalogs published by Daegwangsa and Ohsung, as well as previous “2001-present” yearly Krause catalogs have listed the mintages for the following two varieties of the 10-Won coin this way: There are previous years, and later years, but I am just showing a representative sample above. What Komsco (the South Korean Mint) did was change the coining metal for the 10-Won denomination from a solid brass-alloy coin to a copper-coated aluminum coin that is over 4 millimeters smaller in diameter. Two things to note: 1) They did this switch in 2006. 2) Half of the 2006 mintage was the old solid brass variety, and the latter half of that year's mintage was the new copper-coated aluminum variety. 3) After the switch to the new variety, the old brass variety was retired completely. This was a cost-savings measure, as I’m sure you can guess. The Bank of Korea's “plan” in 2020 is to save even more by getting rid of coins altogether… but I digress. So, here’s the problem. Look at Krause’s 2018 listing for these two coins: I see some MAJOR confusion here. First off, the KM#33.2 is 4.06 grams in weight, and the KM#103 is 1.22 grams in weight. Also, "Aluminum-Bronze"??? Never came upon this information before. I think someone stayed up late at night re-arranging the South Korea listing prior to the deadline over at Krause! Just what is it all that they have messed up? I’m still trying to suss it out.
There are tons of errors in Krause, especially in two categories: modern coins, and coins from Asian countries. Within a couple of years, the errors usually get sorted out. Instead of compiling a list here, go to the Krause website - you can send an email directly to Krause, show them the error, and they will fix it. I've done this several times, with good results.
Email works? Good to know. I have cited errors on two occasions in snail mail messages to them, with no results. Cheers.
