Ken Bressett Explores the Coins, Customs, and Cultures of Ancient Times
Dentuck
Posts: 3,819 ✭✭✭
2nd Edition of Kenneth Bressett’s Money of the Bible
Explores the Customs and Cultures of Ancient Times
Money and coins are mentioned many times, and in many places, in the Old and New Testaments. Author and historian Kenneth Bressett presents their stories and explores their relevance in the 2nd edition of Money of the Bible, a 120-page coffee-table book to be released by Whitman Publishing in July.
“The 1st edition was very popular, and received glowing reviews,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “It won the 2006 Best Specialized Book Award for World Coins from the Numismatic Literary Guild.”
BookIdeas reviewer John L. Ho Jr. called the 1st edition “a wonderful reference book for church libraries.” Noted numismatic researcher David L. Vagi said, “We are fortunate to have this book, which is nothing less than the fruit of decades of careful study by one of our field’s most distinguished authors.” Author and scholar Dr. Paul Rynearson, who wrote the foreword to the 2nd edition, said, “This reference makes coins come alive, visually expanding Biblical texts, while the beautiful photographs of historical places and artifacts make the words resonate in our hearts. You will discover fascination on every page.” Rynearson continued, “Money of the Bible has established itself as a most valuable reference and sumptuous art book dedicated to both numismatics and Biblical studies.”
“Coins give us a running commentary on biblical events in a way that no other artifacts can supply,” said Bressett. Perhaps best known as the longtime editor of the annual Guide Book of United States Coins, he has also researched and written about English coinage, ancient Greek and Roman coins, grading standards, buying and selling coins, and many other topics.
“Have you ever wondered what the thirty pieces of silver looked like?” Bressett asked during a related presentation at the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo in Atlanta. “What about the Tribute Penny, so famously ‘rendered unto Caesar’? These were real coins, and we can still hold them in our hands today.”
One attendee of his presentation, retired pastor David Bunch of Smyrna, Georgia, brought some ancient coins to the show for Bressett to examine. “It’s a fascinating topic,” Bunch said. “I’m amazed that these coins still survive in such condition. I took a lot of notes.”
The 2nd edition of Money of the Bible is updated with new photographs and new research. The book studies how the Bible was written, and its nature; commerce before coins; coins of Old Testament times; coins in the New Testament; first-century money and trade; coins mentioned in Jesus’ parables and lessons; coins and the Passion of Christ; the beginning of Christianity; coins with Biblical themes; and how to collect Biblical coins. A foreword by Dr. Paul Rynearson and a detailed index round out the text and full-color photographs.
“In Money of the Bible, Ken immerses the reader in ancient life and customs,” said Whitman’s publisher. “For example, explaining the Parable of the Lost Coin, he tells why a woman who loses a single drachma out of ten would rejoice with her friends and neighbors when she found it. There is more to that story than just the day’s-wages value of the coin.”
Bressett explains that ten Greek drachmas traditionally made up the headband of a married woman, “a symbol equal to today’s wedding ring.” If a wife were found guilty of adultery, a coin would be removed from her headband as a public humiliation. If she accidentally lost one of her ten coins, finding it again would be a cause for rejoicing.
Other stories examine the money the Good Samaritan would have used to pay the innkeeper; the worst insults used on Roman imperial coins; early images of Christ and angels; why a fish might have a silver coin in its mouth; and many other fascinating topics.
Money of the Bible, 2nd edition, will be available in July at www.WhitmanBooks.com or from hobby shops and bookstores nationwide.
# # #
Hardcover
120 pages
Coffee-table format (10 x 12 inches)
Fully illustrated in color
Retail $29.95
---
About the author: Kenneth E. Bressett has been involved in the hobby since the 1940s. He has written many numismatic articles and is author or editor of more than a dozen related books; a past governor, vice president, and president of the American Numismatic Association; and a highly accomplished teacher, researcher, and student. He has served for many years as the editor of A Guide Book of United States Coins, popularly known as the “Red Book”—at more than 21 million copies, one of the best-selling nonfiction titles of all time. As a former consultant to the United States Mint, he was instrumental in originating the 50 State Quarters® Program and in selecting many of the coins’ reverse designs. Ken is a recipient of the Numismatic Literary Guild’s Clemy Award and is an inductee in the Numismatic Hall of Fame (at ANA Headquarters in Colorado Springs).
Recent literary awards:
2006 Extraordinary Merit Award (Numismatic Literary Guild)
... A Guide Book of United States Coins, 60th edition (editor)
2006 Best Specialized Book, World Coins (Numismatic Literary Guild)
... Money of the Bible, 1st edition
Other recent books by Bressett include the Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins (editor); the Whitman Guide to Coin Collecting; United States Currency, 3rd edition; the Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States Coins, 6th edition (editor); and the Handbook of United States Coins, 65th edition (editor).
Other upcoming titles by Bressett include Milestone Coins: A Pageant of the World’s Most Popular and Significant Money, and Money of the American Civil War.
Explores the Customs and Cultures of Ancient Times
Money and coins are mentioned many times, and in many places, in the Old and New Testaments. Author and historian Kenneth Bressett presents their stories and explores their relevance in the 2nd edition of Money of the Bible, a 120-page coffee-table book to be released by Whitman Publishing in July.
“The 1st edition was very popular, and received glowing reviews,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “It won the 2006 Best Specialized Book Award for World Coins from the Numismatic Literary Guild.”
BookIdeas reviewer John L. Ho Jr. called the 1st edition “a wonderful reference book for church libraries.” Noted numismatic researcher David L. Vagi said, “We are fortunate to have this book, which is nothing less than the fruit of decades of careful study by one of our field’s most distinguished authors.” Author and scholar Dr. Paul Rynearson, who wrote the foreword to the 2nd edition, said, “This reference makes coins come alive, visually expanding Biblical texts, while the beautiful photographs of historical places and artifacts make the words resonate in our hearts. You will discover fascination on every page.” Rynearson continued, “Money of the Bible has established itself as a most valuable reference and sumptuous art book dedicated to both numismatics and Biblical studies.”
“Coins give us a running commentary on biblical events in a way that no other artifacts can supply,” said Bressett. Perhaps best known as the longtime editor of the annual Guide Book of United States Coins, he has also researched and written about English coinage, ancient Greek and Roman coins, grading standards, buying and selling coins, and many other topics.
“Have you ever wondered what the thirty pieces of silver looked like?” Bressett asked during a related presentation at the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo in Atlanta. “What about the Tribute Penny, so famously ‘rendered unto Caesar’? These were real coins, and we can still hold them in our hands today.”
One attendee of his presentation, retired pastor David Bunch of Smyrna, Georgia, brought some ancient coins to the show for Bressett to examine. “It’s a fascinating topic,” Bunch said. “I’m amazed that these coins still survive in such condition. I took a lot of notes.”
The 2nd edition of Money of the Bible is updated with new photographs and new research. The book studies how the Bible was written, and its nature; commerce before coins; coins of Old Testament times; coins in the New Testament; first-century money and trade; coins mentioned in Jesus’ parables and lessons; coins and the Passion of Christ; the beginning of Christianity; coins with Biblical themes; and how to collect Biblical coins. A foreword by Dr. Paul Rynearson and a detailed index round out the text and full-color photographs.
“In Money of the Bible, Ken immerses the reader in ancient life and customs,” said Whitman’s publisher. “For example, explaining the Parable of the Lost Coin, he tells why a woman who loses a single drachma out of ten would rejoice with her friends and neighbors when she found it. There is more to that story than just the day’s-wages value of the coin.”
Bressett explains that ten Greek drachmas traditionally made up the headband of a married woman, “a symbol equal to today’s wedding ring.” If a wife were found guilty of adultery, a coin would be removed from her headband as a public humiliation. If she accidentally lost one of her ten coins, finding it again would be a cause for rejoicing.
Other stories examine the money the Good Samaritan would have used to pay the innkeeper; the worst insults used on Roman imperial coins; early images of Christ and angels; why a fish might have a silver coin in its mouth; and many other fascinating topics.
Money of the Bible, 2nd edition, will be available in July at www.WhitmanBooks.com or from hobby shops and bookstores nationwide.
# # #
Hardcover
120 pages
Coffee-table format (10 x 12 inches)
Fully illustrated in color
Retail $29.95
---
About the author: Kenneth E. Bressett has been involved in the hobby since the 1940s. He has written many numismatic articles and is author or editor of more than a dozen related books; a past governor, vice president, and president of the American Numismatic Association; and a highly accomplished teacher, researcher, and student. He has served for many years as the editor of A Guide Book of United States Coins, popularly known as the “Red Book”—at more than 21 million copies, one of the best-selling nonfiction titles of all time. As a former consultant to the United States Mint, he was instrumental in originating the 50 State Quarters® Program and in selecting many of the coins’ reverse designs. Ken is a recipient of the Numismatic Literary Guild’s Clemy Award and is an inductee in the Numismatic Hall of Fame (at ANA Headquarters in Colorado Springs).
Recent literary awards:
2006 Extraordinary Merit Award (Numismatic Literary Guild)
... A Guide Book of United States Coins, 60th edition (editor)
2006 Best Specialized Book, World Coins (Numismatic Literary Guild)
... Money of the Bible, 1st edition
Other recent books by Bressett include the Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins (editor); the Whitman Guide to Coin Collecting; United States Currency, 3rd edition; the Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States Coins, 6th edition (editor); and the Handbook of United States Coins, 65th edition (editor).
Other upcoming titles by Bressett include Milestone Coins: A Pageant of the World’s Most Popular and Significant Money, and Money of the American Civil War.
0