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Book review #3/Look what came in the mail today, Emmett (No, not the Lego character.)
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<p>[QUOTE="vlaha, post: 1866650, member: 56398"]Well, well, well, what do we have here, another book on tets, from our very own TIF!</p><p><br /></p><p>So anyhow, TIF was sweet and bought the cute 'widdle YN a book on Alexandrian coins...but on the condition that he do a book review! Yay!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Alexandrian Coins, by Keith Emmett</p><p>Originally published 2001</p><p><br /></p><p>Overall impression: Emmett catalogs (as the name suggests) not merely tetradrachms, but all denominations of Alexandrian coins. This makes it a fascinating read (erm, skim to be more precise) for those not already acquainted with the (slightly) less popular types. Emmett also includes an exciting cataloging system, but I'll build some suspense and save that for later.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />However, you're out of luck if you're looking for a Milne style history of the mint or something similar.</p><p><br /></p><p>Specific Points of Awesome (SPA): Type totals by denomination and issuer; cataloging system; rarity ratings; highlights 'o-awesome; Greek to Latin translator; expanded obverse inscriptions. </p><p><br /></p><p>Specific Points of Fail (SPF): "Detailed Reverse Descriptions", advanced cataloging system.</p><p><br /></p><p>SPA 1. Type totals by denomination and issuer. This is one ingenious move, a table of the number of (in major published collections) types for <b>every </b>denomination of <b>every </b>issuer. Wanna know how many issues Julia Domna has when under Severus? That'll be 34 tetradrachms, 3 hemidrachms, and 15 diobols. Doing a quick check to see if Gallineus really made drachms? Yup!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]314645[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>SPA 2. Cataloging system. If you want history, go with Milne. If it's a guide, Curtis is for you.</p><p>But when you're trying to find a reference, BUY...EMMETT (If you don't I'll have to call down the coin police on you for sheer stupidity.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie4" alt=":mad:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />)! Emmett's system is easy to use, decent to look at, and corrects some things that I didn't even realize had been faults. But what really blows my mind is that he uses the <i>reverse </i>designs to define catalog numbers, he only lists portrait styles (along with a thumbnail) and obverse legends at the beginning of each emperor's section.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]314650[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>He also assigns <b>one </b>number to each reverse type, regardless of year. The exceptions to this are when a power switch occurs, or it's the same design, but with the "actors" in different positions (such as Demeter standing light rather than left). By assigning one number to each year, he was able to bring in a convenient format, using rows for types and columns for years. </p><p><br /></p><p>SPA 3. Rarity ratings. I thought this deserved it is own mention. In each "occupied" spot of the cataloging system resides a number from one to five, one through three being relatively available to the average collector, four and five being much harder to find. </p><p><br /></p><p>I've had mixed feelings about assigning a rarity rating to every issue. I think that they should only be used as a very general guideline. He assigned a rarity number to over <i>8000 </i>year/design combos! With a task so large mistakes are inevitable. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]314652[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>SPA 4. Highlights 'o-awesome. Emmett occasionally picks out cool or unusual coin types, then provides historical background and interesting tidbits. However on pages 74A, 74B, and 74C he goes overboard and has full pages of illustrations (Yes, those are the page names, and no, I'm not going to show them.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />).</p><p><br /></p><p>He is like a kid in a candy store.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie6" alt=":cool:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]314653[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>SPA 5. Greek to Latin translator. Translates the Greek alphabet into Latin and the other way around. Pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin" rel="nofollow">http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin</a></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]314655[/ATTACH] </p><p>SPA 6. Expanded obverse inscriptions. From a historical perspective this is one of the most interesting things, it provides expanded (if necessary) obverse legends in Greek, and English translations.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]314659[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Now for the rotten was-he-even-awake-when-he-wrote-this, Specific Points of Fail.</p><p><br /></p><p>SPF 1. "Detailed Reverse Descriptions." MY FOOT!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie11" alt=":rolleyes:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> This <i>might </i>be helpful in <i>some </i>situations, but after Curtis' truly excellent descriptions this just seems pathetic.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]314660[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>SPF 2. Advanced cataloging system. The standard "Emmett 443" or whatever is good, and the extended version may also be good, but for the life of me I can't understand his explanation of it. So, I'm placing it in the "fail" category. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]314661[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>To wrap up, thanks for reading, and thanks to TIF!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Cheers all!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie6" alt=":cool:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <i> </i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="vlaha, post: 1866650, member: 56398"]Well, well, well, what do we have here, another book on tets, from our very own TIF! So anyhow, TIF was sweet and bought the cute 'widdle YN a book on Alexandrian coins...but on the condition that he do a book review! Yay!:D Alexandrian Coins, by Keith Emmett Originally published 2001 Overall impression: Emmett catalogs (as the name suggests) not merely tetradrachms, but all denominations of Alexandrian coins. This makes it a fascinating read (erm, skim to be more precise) for those not already acquainted with the (slightly) less popular types. Emmett also includes an exciting cataloging system, but I'll build some suspense and save that for later.;)However, you're out of luck if you're looking for a Milne style history of the mint or something similar. Specific Points of Awesome (SPA): Type totals by denomination and issuer; cataloging system; rarity ratings; highlights 'o-awesome; Greek to Latin translator; expanded obverse inscriptions. Specific Points of Fail (SPF): "Detailed Reverse Descriptions", advanced cataloging system. SPA 1. Type totals by denomination and issuer. This is one ingenious move, a table of the number of (in major published collections) types for [B]every [/B]denomination of [B]every [/B]issuer. Wanna know how many issues Julia Domna has when under Severus? That'll be 34 tetradrachms, 3 hemidrachms, and 15 diobols. Doing a quick check to see if Gallineus really made drachms? Yup! [ATTACH=full]314645[/ATTACH] SPA 2. Cataloging system. If you want history, go with Milne. If it's a guide, Curtis is for you. But when you're trying to find a reference, BUY...EMMETT (If you don't I'll have to call down the coin police on you for sheer stupidity.;):mad:)! Emmett's system is easy to use, decent to look at, and corrects some things that I didn't even realize had been faults. But what really blows my mind is[I] [/I]that he uses the [I]reverse [/I]designs to define catalog numbers, he only lists portrait styles (along with a thumbnail) and obverse legends at the beginning of each emperor's section. [ATTACH=full]314650[/ATTACH] He also assigns [B]one [/B]number to each reverse type, regardless of year. The exceptions to this are when a power switch occurs, or it's the same design, but with the "actors" in different positions (such as Demeter standing light rather than left). By assigning one number to each year, he was able to bring in a convenient format, using rows for types and columns for years. SPA 3. Rarity ratings. I thought this deserved it is own mention. In each "occupied" spot of the cataloging system resides a number from one to five, one through three being relatively available to the average collector, four and five being much harder to find. I've had mixed feelings about assigning a rarity rating to every[I] [/I]issue. I think that they should only be used as a very general guideline. He assigned a rarity number to over [I]8000 [/I]year/design combos! With a task so large mistakes are inevitable. [ATTACH=full]314652[/ATTACH] SPA 4. Highlights 'o-awesome. Emmett occasionally picks out cool or unusual coin types, then provides historical background and interesting tidbits. However on pages 74A, 74B, and 74C he goes overboard and has full pages of illustrations (Yes, those are the page names, and no, I'm not going to show them.:D). He is like a kid in a candy store.:cool: [ATTACH=full]314653[/ATTACH] SPA 5. Greek to Latin translator. Translates the Greek alphabet into Latin and the other way around. Pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. [url]http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin[/url] [ATTACH=full]314655[/ATTACH] SPA 6. Expanded obverse inscriptions. From a historical perspective this is one of the most interesting things, it provides expanded (if necessary) obverse legends in Greek, and English translations. [ATTACH=full]314659[/ATTACH] Now for the rotten was-he-even-awake-when-he-wrote-this, Specific Points of Fail. SPF 1. "Detailed Reverse Descriptions." MY FOOT!:rolleyes: This [I]might [/I]be helpful in [I]some [/I]situations, but after Curtis' truly excellent descriptions this just seems pathetic. [ATTACH=full]314660[/ATTACH] SPF 2. Advanced cataloging system. The standard "Emmett 443" or whatever is good, and the extended version may also be good, but for the life of me I can't understand his explanation of it. So, I'm placing it in the "fail" category. [ATTACH=full]314661[/ATTACH] To wrap up, thanks for reading, and thanks to TIF!:) Cheers all!:cool: [I] [/I][/QUOTE]
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Book review #3/Look what came in the mail today, Emmett (No, not the Lego character.)
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