What is wrong with this U.S. Silver Dollar Book?

jesbroken · April 30, 2023 12:32PM

Their must be an issue with "The Comprehensive U.S. Silver Dollar Encyclopedia" by John W. Highfill as it sells for under $15 and is 1200 pages long. It was published in 1990 so not that old that lack of info available and with 1200 pages it should have it all. Just wondering why so inexpensive.
Jim

JWP · April 30, 2023 12:53PM

Maybe the way to answer your question is to buy the lowest priced book available. 🤔

alefzero · April 30, 2023 1:18PM

There are many good articles in it. Perhaps dated, but definitely a good one to have in the numislibrary. Some have referred to it as the Highfill family photo album for the sheer number of photo sections inside. I like the book. Usually is next to the Bowers 2-volume set on my shelf.

jesbroken · April 30, 2023 3:20PM

I bought the book some time ago for $12 and thought that I had gotten a steal, but then noticed these selling at the same range. Just curious as to how a 1200 page book would have dropped so low.
Jim

Mitchell · April 30, 2023 3:59PM

@alefzero said:
There are many good articles in it. Perhaps dated, but definitely a good one to have in the numislibrary. Some have referred to it as the Highfill family photo album for the sheer number of photo sections inside. I like the book. Usually is next to the Bowers 2-volume set on my shelf.

I was at a Long Beach coin show when this book was released. Although I got a dealer's discount at the time and I'm sure John knew much more than I ever would, I was disappointed in the overall content because the book was really like a family photo album. I quickly sold my copy and never looked back.

There are other vintage dollar books that have aged well over the years. My favorite is Wayne Miller's Silver Dollar Textbook or any of the edition of Leroy Van Allen's books.