Book Review of 100 Greatest U.S. Coins
Mark
Posts: 3,536 ✭✭✭✭✭
I and others have done some book reviews and because I just finished 100 Greatest U.S. Coins by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth, I thought I'd review it. I must admit that when I started the book, I was expecting very little, particularly because Guth is a co-author of United States Proof Sets and Mint Sets, which is a book that I find boring, error-prone, and, in general a book to avoid. But I was mistaken: the 100 Greatest book was excellent. Garrett and Guth polled PNG members about the coins the members thought were "the greatest." Non-official coins were ruled out, which eliminated most colonial coins (though the 1776 Continental [#12], 1792 Disme [#29], 1787 Fugio Cent [#32], 1792 Birch cent [#34], and the 1792 Pattern Quarter dollar [#56] were included because these coins have claim to "official" status), confederate coins (though the 1861-D gold dollar [#64], which was struck by confederates, is included), and most territorial coins (though the U.S. Assay Fifty dollar gold coin [#35] was included, again because of its claim to "official" status). Of the official coins, #1 was the 1964 AH JFK half and #2 was the MS69 NJ Quarter ...opps, that's not right. Let me get it straight: #1 was the 1804 dollar, #2 was the 1913 V-nickel, #3 was the 1933 Double Eagle, #4 was the 1849 Double Eagle, and #5 was the 1907 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle.
For each of the first 10 coins, the book has a stunning full page picture and a full page discussion of the coin. Coins #11 (the 1872 Amazonian Gold Pattern Set) through #80 (the 1801, 1802, and 1803 Proof Silver Dollars) have a beautiful 1/4 page picture and 3/4 page discussion. Then coins #81 (1851 Silver dollar) through 100 ("three great patterns--1879 Schoolgirl silver dollar pattern, 1879 Quintuple Stella pattern in gold, and 1882 Shield Earring silver dollar pattern) have about a 1/8 page picture and a 3/8 page discussion.
The pictures are, as I said, stunningly beautiful. But the book is more than eye candy because the discussions are invariably interesting. Each write up discusses the coin, has a paragraph telling the designer and characteristics of the coin type, and has a small paragraph discussing the coin's rarity. If you enjoy reading about a coin's history or how collectors approached it over the years, you definitely will enjoy this book. Here, for example, is the discussion of the 1861-D gold dollar:
"The 1861-D is the second rarest Gold Dollar, superseded only by the 1849-C OPen Wreath. Thoiugh it is an undeniably scarce coin, its primary claim to fame is that it was struck under Confederate control. The same Congressional Act of 1835 that created the Charlotte Mint also established the Dahlonega Mint. Like its Charlotte counterpart, the Dahlonega Mint opened in 1838, striking only Quarter Eagles and Half Eagles. Though it was fairly prosperous in the 1840s and 1850s, the future of the Dahlonega Mint became uncertain in 1861. After the Confederacy took over the Mint in April of that year, director George Kellogg resigned and turned the facility over to the CSA. Using what limited bullion remained, rebel forces struck approximately 1,000-1,5000 Gold Dollars in May of 1861.
"The rebel minters were amateurs and obviously inexperienced. The quality of the Gold Dollars they struck was poor, as the strike was incomplete and the planchets sloppily prepared. While most of the coins they struck were released into circulation, a small quantity was likely retained by the rebels. This accounts for the high number of Mint State survivors; almost all Dahlonega Gold Dollars are found well worn and battered from use. In total, approximately 50-60 of the original 1,000-1,500 pieces struck are known. Although the Dahlonega Mint also struck Half Eagles in 1861, these probably were minted early in the year under the auspices of Kellogg. The Gold Dollars, conversely, were clearly produced by rebels after the Union employees fled. This makes the 1861-D Gold Dollar unique as the only U.S. coin struck by rebels, for which no federal counterpart exists (in contrast, some 1861-O silver Half Dollars and some 1861-C Half Eagles were struck under federal auspices, others after the mints fell into the hands of the confederacy.)
"The 1861-D Gold Dollar has been a favorite among collectors since the late nineteenth century. When the Gold Dollar denomination was discontinued in 1889, it became popular to try to form complete sets of the denomination. As numismatists began to collect the series, the 1861-D emerged as a challenging coin to acquire. When a speciman did appear at auction, budding was always fierce and competitive. While the 1861-D Gold Dollar is not the most valuable coin discussed in this text, its connection to the Confederacy makes it one of the most historically significant."
This is an outstanding book. It makes both a great coffee table book because of its amazing pictures and also a great reading book because of well written discussions. I think the book is similar to Lay's potato chips: Just as I can't eat just one single chip, I couldn't read just one single discussion--I always had to read 2 or 3 or 4 or more. I highly recommend the book. I don't know its cost because Heritage was kind enough to send me a copy, but if you have a spouse or signficant other who is looking to buy you something for a birthday or holiday, suggest this book because you won't be disappointed...and your spouse or signficant other also may well enjoy looking at the book's pictures!
Mark
For each of the first 10 coins, the book has a stunning full page picture and a full page discussion of the coin. Coins #11 (the 1872 Amazonian Gold Pattern Set) through #80 (the 1801, 1802, and 1803 Proof Silver Dollars) have a beautiful 1/4 page picture and 3/4 page discussion. Then coins #81 (1851 Silver dollar) through 100 ("three great patterns--1879 Schoolgirl silver dollar pattern, 1879 Quintuple Stella pattern in gold, and 1882 Shield Earring silver dollar pattern) have about a 1/8 page picture and a 3/8 page discussion.
The pictures are, as I said, stunningly beautiful. But the book is more than eye candy because the discussions are invariably interesting. Each write up discusses the coin, has a paragraph telling the designer and characteristics of the coin type, and has a small paragraph discussing the coin's rarity. If you enjoy reading about a coin's history or how collectors approached it over the years, you definitely will enjoy this book. Here, for example, is the discussion of the 1861-D gold dollar:
"The 1861-D is the second rarest Gold Dollar, superseded only by the 1849-C OPen Wreath. Thoiugh it is an undeniably scarce coin, its primary claim to fame is that it was struck under Confederate control. The same Congressional Act of 1835 that created the Charlotte Mint also established the Dahlonega Mint. Like its Charlotte counterpart, the Dahlonega Mint opened in 1838, striking only Quarter Eagles and Half Eagles. Though it was fairly prosperous in the 1840s and 1850s, the future of the Dahlonega Mint became uncertain in 1861. After the Confederacy took over the Mint in April of that year, director George Kellogg resigned and turned the facility over to the CSA. Using what limited bullion remained, rebel forces struck approximately 1,000-1,5000 Gold Dollars in May of 1861.
"The rebel minters were amateurs and obviously inexperienced. The quality of the Gold Dollars they struck was poor, as the strike was incomplete and the planchets sloppily prepared. While most of the coins they struck were released into circulation, a small quantity was likely retained by the rebels. This accounts for the high number of Mint State survivors; almost all Dahlonega Gold Dollars are found well worn and battered from use. In total, approximately 50-60 of the original 1,000-1,500 pieces struck are known. Although the Dahlonega Mint also struck Half Eagles in 1861, these probably were minted early in the year under the auspices of Kellogg. The Gold Dollars, conversely, were clearly produced by rebels after the Union employees fled. This makes the 1861-D Gold Dollar unique as the only U.S. coin struck by rebels, for which no federal counterpart exists (in contrast, some 1861-O silver Half Dollars and some 1861-C Half Eagles were struck under federal auspices, others after the mints fell into the hands of the confederacy.)
"The 1861-D Gold Dollar has been a favorite among collectors since the late nineteenth century. When the Gold Dollar denomination was discontinued in 1889, it became popular to try to form complete sets of the denomination. As numismatists began to collect the series, the 1861-D emerged as a challenging coin to acquire. When a speciman did appear at auction, budding was always fierce and competitive. While the 1861-D Gold Dollar is not the most valuable coin discussed in this text, its connection to the Confederacy makes it one of the most historically significant."
This is an outstanding book. It makes both a great coffee table book because of its amazing pictures and also a great reading book because of well written discussions. I think the book is similar to Lay's potato chips: Just as I can't eat just one single chip, I couldn't read just one single discussion--I always had to read 2 or 3 or 4 or more. I highly recommend the book. I don't know its cost because Heritage was kind enough to send me a copy, but if you have a spouse or signficant other who is looking to buy you something for a birthday or holiday, suggest this book because you won't be disappointed...and your spouse or signficant other also may well enjoy looking at the book's pictures!
Mark
Mark
0
Comments
<< <i>Excellent review Mark, if I didn't have it already I'd jump into cyberspace and order one! Is it true the second printing will be changed to 101 Greatest US Coins to accommodate the PMM? >>
Gee whiz.
The pictures and write up's are great. BUT, some of the write-ups are out of date ALREADY - The finding of the final 1913 Liberty nickel, and especially top prices for coins purchased, including a lot of them in the top 100....
You make a good point about some of the text being out of date. Unfortunately there are many references to viewing a particular coin at the Smithsonian, which, of course, we know is no longer possible. I wasn't as upset as you by Garrett and Guth's method of selecting the "100 greatest" coins because I figure any method is going to be arbitrary. I was a bit surprised that David Bowers was not one of the PNG voters. Perhaps he simply did not return his ballot...
shylock and nwcs:
Your comments really p!ss me off...
Mark
Edited to add: it is bothersome that the town troll has chosen my favorite coin as his icon. Why he did not choose the PMM I cannot fathom.
I picked the Icon because he looked like a leprechaun, and my name is luckoftheirish! No harm intended!!!
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
I've enjoyed reading the book. I only disagree with the 1856 FE cent - it should be #1.