I'm using the Red Book definition of Post-Colonial Issues. From the Red Book listings Post-Colonial appears to be items dated in the 1780's. I'm also interested in what the Red Book calls Contract Issues and Patterns. There are often many varieties of each type that are included in those two categories. Is there a reference (or references) that codifies and closely describes all this material? Something along the lines of Noyes work on US Large Cents or Fuhrman's Handbooks on US Half Cents.
The most complete works are books on each individual series. The Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins is a pretty decent starter book covering most issues. There is also the classic Sylvester Crosby's The Early Coins of America written in 1875. Still one of the main references on the state and colonial coinages. Crosby covers all the proposals and legislation authorizing the coinage, tons of information.
Thanks for this information. I don't expect to purchase many coins in these categories, but it will be very nice to be able to reasonably identify anything I do acquire. Right now I have only two. A Fugio cent and a New Jersey coin. Both are slabbed by PCGS or NGC. That gives me confidence that they are "as described".
There is no single. definitive reference on all pre-federal issues. There are over 300 separate die marriages of Connecticut coppers alone!. But the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, 2nd Edition by Bowers is a pretty good reference for both background information on the issues and you can usually attribute many issues for die marriage from the descriptions. If you're looking, as I do, for enough information to inform a colonial and pre-federal type set collection but don't wish to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars in literally dozens of specialty books (although I do have some of those), then this is probably the best book for you. Available at Amazon right now for $36.25, a bargain in my view. And Prime free, one day delivery if you're a Prime member.
Thanks for the additional comments. And since I'm an EAC member, I may be able to also get help from that group.
