i just got the Part II book. Asia/ Africa I would say it could stand some improvements..... I/ have the coin plates in colour 2/ updates for new discoveries 3/ have it in larger format 4/ have some of the rare coins shown in 2X size Many of my stuff is not listed John
This book is not intended to be a complete listing of all Greek coins (that would take 10,000 pages at least) but to show a sampling of what there is. Some lesser cities get only one type while major ones are shown only with the most common or popular ones. Color, larger format etc. would just make the book more expensive and place it outside the target audience. New discoveries would fall outside the intent unless that discovery was so common in the market that it would be the coin most likely to be seen by the beginner. This was my first book on Greek coins and amazed me at how often the coin I had from a city was the one the author put in the book. We should mention there is a volume one covering Western Greek coins. You need both.
I consider the books a great starting place, but if you get really deep into Greeks you will want more specialized references.
I love my European edition (I need the Asia/Africa one). I also purchased Whitman’s Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman coins and Carradice & Price, Coinage in the Greek world, both of which make for fascinating reading.
Sear does very well in two books to give an overview of Greek coinage. For a more detailed overview, Hoover's newer Handbook of Greek Coinage is a better bet - https://www.cngcoins.com/Coins.aspx?CATEGORY_ID=2914&VIEW_TYPE=0 - more books to buy, but many more coins listed. You'll end up with a mini "Orange Wall" when you get them all. (When I thought of "Orange Wall" it brought back memories of the original Orange Wall - a collection of VAX/VMS manuals. Somewhere along the line, DEC changed to grey manuals and wall became grey.) ATB, Aidan.
IMHO, coloured plates in a standard reference work is unnecessary. However, in a coffee table book showing off the beauty and majesty of ancient coins it is a must! Each book has a different goal and audience.
Would be nice to get a very detailed 12 volume set. With complete upto date info/ colour plates. That would be my style of books....
