The Definitive and Official PCGS Forum Review™ of In Yankee Doodle's Pocket

RYK

In Yankee Doodle's Pocket: The Myth, Magic and Politics of Money in Early America was recently published by noted colonial coin collector, Will Nipper. It is not a typical numismatic work by any stretch. Rather than stressing die states, mintages, values, and PCGS populations, Nipper instead spins a unique narrative of US colonial history. Nipper does not use the traditional historical focal points of wars or great men (and women) to bind the story together, but instead employs the numismatic creations of the colonial era.

In what other book, ostensibly written about coins, will one learn about Oliver Cromwell usurping the throne of Charles I? Of John Bailey, who crafted the sword of George Washington (as well as the famous Doubloon)? Of French explorer Jacques Cartier and how his quest for diamonds and gold led him up the St. Lawrence River in the 1530's? (Little did he know that all he had to do was wait nearly 500 years and find Mrs Longacre's cache in nearby Connecticut )

Contrary to the belief of my competitor, this book is not one that can be read in one sitting or even meant to be read page after page, sitting in a lounger, like a novel. The best use of this book is to pick it up and open it to a coin of interest or era of interest and start reading. Certainly one can lose one's self in the mysteries of the Albany Church penny (with or without the "D.") or deciding whether or not the 1749 British halfpenny truly is an American coin. However, if you are seeking a book to teach you how to invest in colonial coins, which ones are undervalued or overgraded, or which Ryder die state your Vermont copper is, this book is probably not for you.

Not since Sylvester Crosby's Early Coins of America in 1875 has one so ambitiously tackled the entire US colonial series and added the foreign coins circulating in the early US, colonial currency, and early Federal coins (until 1840) as added treats. It easily surpasses Breen's contributions in this area though the Breen book is extensively referenced. It will be interesting to see how Bowers' upcoming book on colonial coins (to be released by Whitman in November) compares.

In Yankee Doodle's Pocket: The Myth, Magic and Politics of Money in Early America should appeal to lovers of early US and colonial coins, early US history as it relates to coins and money, and those of broad US numismatic and historic interest. Such numismatic scholarship deserves to be rewarded with your consideration. It is in the same league as QDB favorites Adventures with Rare Coins and More Adventures with Rare Coins and belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who cares enough to have read this entire review.

fc

that is an excellent review! i think i have a good idea how the book
will read and what to expect if i choose to buy it.

MidLifeCrisis

Well that settles it...I gotta buy the book!

I'll be buying QDB's book too.

ColonialCoinUnion

This is exactly the sort of quality posting that I've come to expect here in the chatroom -

CoinRaritiesOnline

Great review, RYK!

NHSBaseball

Thanks for the review- you talked me into it.

Coinosaurus

Thx for the review. This one is on the must have list.......

D

Excellent review and writing RYK.

Appreciated, I don't own many numismatic books but this sounds like a winner.

-D

kranky

Great review, RYK. I especially liked how you put this book into context by comparison to others.

rgCoinGuy

Wow, I had no intention of buying this book, but your review has sold me. If that doctor thing doesn't work out, you could always write book reviews.

Longacre

I have to give credit where credit is due-- that was a great review (especially the reference to Mrs. L's jewelry collection). I look forward to reading the book at a more leisurely pace, delving into the details of the text, and generating interesting discussions for the boards (probably to the chagrin of many here).

You should consider posting this review to the Esylum.

jmski52

Very interesting. Is cognac required?

RYK

<< <i>Very interesting. Is cognac required? >>



No. Much of the reading was done during my son's swimming practice.

Walmann

Interesting review, but does the book have pictures?

newbiecollector

Great review. Is there an online link where it could be ordered?

RYK

<< <i>Interesting review, but does the book have pictures? >>



Yes, extensively illustrated with photos and drawings of both historical personalities and coins. Sorry for the omission.

Longacre

<< <i>Great review. Is there an online link where it could be ordered? >>




Here is the link, and please let's not encourage RYK anymore than we should. He's making me look like a slacker.

newbiecollector

Thanks for the link....... I appreciate it

SeaEagleCoins

Great review, Doc...

The American Medical Journal could use a writer like you...

I guess I need to make room for another book in my numismatic library.

RYK

<< <i>

<< <i>Great review. Is there an online link where it could be ordered? >>




Here is the link, and please let's not encourage RYK anymore than we should. He's making me look like a slacker. >>



I will leave the scut work (links, ordering info, etc.) for Longacre to take care of.

Longacre

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Great review. Is there an online link where it could be ordered? >>




Here is the link, and please let's not encourage RYK anymore than we should. He's making me look like a slacker. >>



I will leave the scut work (links, ordering info, etc.) for Longacre to take care of. >>




OK, that was a good one.

newbiecollector

Darn!!!!

They will not ship to me. I am not in the USA............ thanks for the link anyway

RYK

<< <i>Darn!!!!

They will not ship to me. I am not in the USA............ thanks for the link anyway >>



Try these guys

Walmann

<< <i>

<< <i>Darn!!!!

They will not ship to me. I am not in the USA............ thanks for the link anyway >>



Try these guys >>



No overseas shipping there either even APOs, maybe try Amazon?

RYK

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Darn!!!!

They will not ship to me. I am not in the USA............ thanks for the link anyway >>



Try these guys >>



No overseas shipping there either even APOs, maybe try Amazon? >>



My assistant, Longacre, will graciously handle the acquisition and shipping of the book for those who reside outside the US. Please PM him for more information.

newbiecollector

Nope RKY............. large notice at the top of their main page.....Not Currently Shipping to Overseas.

Thanks for trying

Longacre

<< <i>Nope RKY............. large notice at the top of their main page.....Not Currently Shipping to Overseas.

Thanks for trying >>




I take my administrative duties seriously. The link that I provided is to the author himself, in the good, old USA. It is not some fulfillment center in Bangalore, which will tell you how many rupees the book costs. If you are really interested in the book, you can drop the author a note and ask if he will ship it internationally, if you agree to pay the full postage. I assume he would agree to that, especially since you are dealing directly with him, rathan than some big corporate conglomerate.

Shamika

numisma

Fantastic book review.

DaveG

That was an OK appetizer.

I can hardly wait for Longacre to post the real review!

RYK

<< <i>That was an OK appetizer.

I can hardly wait for Longacre to post the real review! >>

Longacre

<< <i>That was an OK appetizer.

I can hardly wait for Longacre to post the real review! >>

ARguy

First, thank you, RYK and others for your VERY kind words. This is my first post to this forum and I honestly have no idea who is behind the nicknames, but do sincerely appreciate what you’ve written. A friend saw the earlier posts and sent me the link to them. Thanks, Dan.

A few comments that may help to clear up any confusion:

The fact that only the US and Canada appear on our website is tied to a handful of non-coin images that I licensed for use in the book. It costs much less to secure the rights to use them in publications marketed in North America than to secure rights for full international distribution. Bowmanstone Press simply is a company that I set up for tax purposes and to market the book. It (and the website) are basically one-man operations, with some help from my wife and kids. So, we don't really have any hard and fast corporate policies, especially none that intentionally make it difficult for our friends living outside the U.S.. We just can’t afford to violate any copyright laws/agreements. Moreover, the shopping cart provider that we use tends to greatly overestimate shipping charges for non-US addresses. So, if you do live outside the US and are interested in the book, please email me privately at books@bowmanstonepress.com.

A few dealers have bought books wholesale and I encourage you to buy from them if it saves you money. I don’t really have much control, other than their purchase costs, over how much they charge. You won’t find it on Amazon just yet – mainly because I haven’t found the time to sign up with them. If there is interest, I can set up a discount code on our website for members of this forum.

As for the book itself, it began in 1997 as a compilation of notes for my four daughters, only one of whom has an interest in numismatics. The idea was to leave them with an understanding of why dad spent so much time thinking about coins. I’m sure that it contains many technical flaws and it isn’t the scholarly work to which you are accustomed. The whole intent was to publish something that is fun, a bit quirky and opinionated and maybe even a little provocative. Like many of you, I started collecting at a very young age. I have line drawings of early American coins that I did at age 5. Couldn’t afford them then and certainly can’t afford many of them now. So, referring to me as a “noted” collector is indeed generous. But, I hope to kindle the same interest in history with my kids – if and when they finally decide to read the book.

Lastly, it’s flattering be mentioned in the same sentence with QDB, but I would never presume to play in that league. Like many of you, I absolutely can’t wait to buy two copies of his upcoming book on early American coins – one to keep and one to cover with a zillion notes. As has been noted, if you buy mine thinking it will be in some sense comparable, you’ll be disappointed. It’s a completely different species.

With many thanks and kind regards,
Will Nipper

RYK

Will,

Thanks for stopping by and clarifying these points for us. Longacre will be even more disappointed that his review was so tardy.

Longacre

<< <i>Will,

Thanks for stopping by and clarifying these points for us. Longacre will be even more disappointed that his review was so tardy. >>




I write literally thousands of threads about my beloved QDB, and he does not join the boards. RYK writes one book review, and the author comes out of the woodwork.

MidLifeCrisis

<< <i>I write literally thousands of threads about my beloved QDB, and he does not join the boards. RYK writes one book review, and the author comes out of the woodwork. >>




And to Will Nipper I say bravo!

RYK

<< <i>

<< <i>Will,

Thanks for stopping by and clarifying these points for us. Longacre will be even more disappointed that his review was so tardy. >>




I write literally thousands of threads about my beloved QDB, and he does not join the boards. RYK writes one book review, and the author comes out of the woodwork. >>



One review? Pssshhh!

If you recall, I was also the first to review Coinosaurus' book and have numerous other book reviews (not to mention show reviews) to my credit.

And how do you know that QDB does not post on the forum?

RYK

Longacre has been relatively quiet on the forum for the last several days. I wonder if he is working on his belated review.

Coinosaurus

Should we have a poll to decide the official Forum book reviewer?

Of course, we would need a little bit more information about the candidates:

* Are they pro-reviewers or choice-reviewers?
* What is their position on deficit reviewing?
* How do they feel about unprovoked, international reviewing?
* And what about universal reviewing coverage for all?

Longacre is probably busy putting his position papers in order

RYK

<< <i>Should we have a poll to decide the official Forum book reviewer?

Of course, we would need a little bit more information about the candidates:

* Are they pro-reviewers or choice-reviewers?
* What is their position on deficit reviewing?
* How do they feel about unprovoked, international reviewing?
* And what about universal reviewing coverage for all?

Longacre is probably busy putting his position papers in order >>


I would gladly sit down with you and discuss these issues without preconditions.

Longacre

<< <i>Should we have a poll to decide the official Forum book reviewer?

Of course, we would need a little bit more information about the candidates:

* Are they pro-reviewers or choice-reviewers?
* What is their position on deficit reviewing?
* How do they feel about unprovoked, international reviewing?
* And what about universal reviewing coverage for all?

Longacre is probably busy putting his position papers in order >>




My PR firm is putting together a response. In the meantime, some Longacre splinter groups are putting the finishing touches on attack ads. If you have not guessed, I am pro choice-reviewer, anti-deficit reviewer, anti-unprovoked reviewer (Longacre is a lover, not a fighter ), and pro-universal reviewing.

jfoot13

What I'd like to know from each of you is "Would your reviews spread the knowledge around or create new knowledge?"

MidLifeCrisis

In Yankee Doodle's Pocket: The Myth, Magic and Politics of Money in Early America

I just got the book for Christmas!

kaz

I ordered a copy of the book after someone reviewed it on the Coin Talk board, and it's a great read. Will Nipper has done a superb job of distilling a wealth of monetary/military/social/political history into this volume, it's a nice example of what I like to call "thick" history. His writing isn't stilted at all. The book itself is large, well printed, with excellent illustrations. My only quibble at present (have read about 1/3) are scattered typos, usually repeated words. Nice work, Will. Enjoyed your review, RYK.

EarlyDollars

I just received the book this morning and finally put it down. An easy read unlike most numis. texts.