New book on U.S. Commemoratives

[RWB]

Anthony Swiatek has a new edition of "Encyclopedia of the Commemorative Coins of the United States" available in July.

 

There is a short sample on the publisher's web site. To this reader, the basic information is satisfactory although there are several factual errors and confused comments about “proof” (i.e.: mirrored surface) examples. The text, however, needs the strong hand of a good editor and the sample pages suffer from the omission.

 

Other opinions would be appreciated.

 

 

[Conder101]

You'll get more opinions with a link to the samples.

[RWB]

Hmmm..thought folks would enjoy the fun of finding it for themselves....

 

(Amazon, and most others are quoting $150, but B&N is as low as $101. for pre-orders.)

[BillJones]

Hmmm..thought folks would enjoy the fun of finding it for themselves....

 

(Amazon, and most others are quoting $150, but B&N is as low as $101. for pre-orders.)

 

WOW! That's pretty pricey for a book on a subject that has been covered many, many times. I already have several books on the “old” commemoratives that provide a lot of basic information including the one that Dave Bowers published some years ago. There are also a couple additions of a small book by the late Arlie Slaybough (sp) that are very entertaining but don’t get much respect these days. I’ll have to review this book extensively before I’ll fork over $100+ for it.

[DWLange]

Arlie Slabaugh's book is the best for getting the stories behind the events and persons being commemorated. The second edition came out in the mid-1970s and brings very little when found. It's quite a bargain.

 

Arlie passed away a couple years ago. He hadn't done much in numismatics for some years, but his legacy of publishing from the 1960s and 70s is prodigious. I wish the current generation of numismatists better understood just how much he contributed, but the hobby as a whole has a short memory.

[Houston Investor]

I have a copy of Investing, Collecting, and Trading Certified Commems by Laibstain published in 1994. I have found this book an excellent, handy reference that has been useful for a long time. Many of these issues have super low mintages and can be purchased in CH BU or Gem for under $300. Their classic designs point to a time when in many ways life was simpler and more basic.