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What books need to be written?

It occurs to me that there is no definitive reference for Swedish patterns. Granted, few people are losing sleep over that. But somebody should write the book.

What other subjects are inadequately covered by the existing literature?

What books need to be written???
Andy Lustig

Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.

Comments

  • mvs7mvs7 Posts: 1,661 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'd love a reference on the coinage of the Central American Republic and associated coinage from member states. MrEureka, given your collecting experience and previous blog posts on the subject, is there such a reference of which I am simply not aware?

    Edited to add... Over on the lightside, my main collecting interest, San Francisco Gold, also has no standard reference. You have to cobble together information gleaned from sources such as books on US Gold or US Coins in general, Heritage auction write-ups, and Doug Winter's blog posts.
  • HoledandCreativeHoledandCreative Posts: 2,729 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How about an updated edition of 1794 Dollars by Martin Logies.
  • pruebaspruebas Posts: 4,302 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Zeros of Zimbabwe.
  • NapNap Posts: 1,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am searching for a good reference on Merovingian coins that's less than 100 years old. This seems like it would be an attractive field to study, but there has not been much recently.

    Belfort's reference is from the 1890's (and still remains the standard work)
    Prou's reference was 1908.

    The only recent reference that I'm aware of is a section in "Medieval European Coinage vol 1" from 1986. This is a useful reference (especially for me since it is in the English language), but it is not meant to be comprehensive in the manner of the prior two books.

    There's nothing wrong with these old references, but there must be new information in the last hundred years that could fill volumes. Belfort's 1892 catalog is 5 volumes and I think has over 4000 individual coins described! Perhaps that sort of undertaking is just not practical these days (sort of like how nobody has replicated Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire)
  • SmEagle1795SmEagle1795 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think there is some demand for a Redbook-equivalent for ancients, picking the top X,000 types (covering all would be impractical but picking maybe 7,000 coins like the Redbook would be doable, and possibly more useful than just the "100 Greatest Ancients" by HJB)
    Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
  • tonedSilvertonedSilver Posts: 153 ✭✭✭
    World's error coins. Don't know if there's a book out there.
  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 11,841 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: mvs7

    I'd love a reference on the coinage of the Central American Republic and associated coinage from member states. MrEureka, given your collecting experience and previous blog posts on the subject, is there such a reference of which I am simply not aware?.




    image



    Carlos Jara has written on the subject to some extent but I don't think authoritatively producing THE book.
  • mvs7mvs7 Posts: 1,661 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: Boosibri


    image


    Funny. If I had to pick one project, I'm a lot closer to wanting to write a San Francisco Gold book, I've just always liked the CAR coinage and wanted to learn more.

    Carlos Jara has written on the subject to some extent but I don't think authoritatively producing THE book.


    Thanks. I googled that and see some things I can check out, thankfully in English. ;-)

  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 23,892 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: mvs7
    I'd love a reference on the coinage of the Central American Republic and associated coinage from member states. MrEureka, given your collecting experience and previous blog posts on the subject, is there such a reference of which I am simply not aware?



    Short of the KM catalog, there's no single work that covers all of it in any meaningful depth. Your best bet is to pick up books covering the individual countries, but even that won't get you very far.

    I'm not even close to ready to write a book on the subject. But if Carlos Jara doesn't write the book in the next ten years, I should be ready to do it myself.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • mvs7mvs7 Posts: 1,661 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: MrEureka
    But if Carlos Jara doesn't write the book in the next ten years, I should be ready to do it myself.


    Looks like, one way or the other, I'll be set in a decade! Thanks ;-).
  • 1960NYGiants1960NYGiants Posts: 3,442 ✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: SmEagle1795

    I think there is some demand for a Redbook-equivalent for ancients, picking the top X,000 types (covering all would be impractical but picking maybe 7,000 coins like the Redbook would be doable, and possibly more useful than just the "100 Greatest Ancients" by HJB)








    This one I like - even though I don't presently collect ancients.



    I was thinking of maybe 3 volumes: bronzes, silvers (including billon), gold and platinum.
    Gene

    Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
    Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors

    Collector of:
    Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
    Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
    My Ebay
  • LochNESSLochNESS Posts: 4,829 ✭✭✭
    As the late great John Lennon would say,



    (in a very British accent) "nothing you can write that can't be wrote"



    image



    OK, ok ... "nothing you can write that can't be written" -but that doesn't flow quite as nicely
    ANA LM • WBCC 429

    Amat Colligendo Focum

    Top 10FOR SALE

    image
  • LochNESSLochNESS Posts: 4,829 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: SmEagle1795

    I think there is some demand for a Redbook-equivalent for ancients, picking the top X,000 types (covering all would be impractical but picking maybe 7,000 coins like the Redbook would be doable, and possibly more useful than just the "100 Greatest Ancients" by HJB)




    SmEagle, seeing your signature again, after a while of not (I was yeti for some time), I clicked to view your Colosseo Collection again. I missed it and I'm not on my desktop where it is bookmarked.



    Even though I know how amazing it is, I still was blown away by the pieces.



    There seems to be many new members lately.



    If you are new to the boards, and have not seen SmEagle's collection, you MUST! You absolutely must. I know others will back me up on this. Here is the link again if you haven't scrolled up to find it:



    colosseocollection.com



    To get back on topic, regarding this quoted text, I have always felt that scope and market pricing were the factors preventing books like this from being written about ancients and errors, respectively. Digital media, which is able to be constantly updated without republishing, may be the solution here.



    When I was a kid, I loved flipping through the pages of Krause. Now as an adult collector, I simply update my catalogs the way I update software. Certainly a book of your authorship and specialty would demand more respect. A hardcover, and a signature if possible image but I think you get my point. Embrace technology where possible and it may solve whatever was holding back authors of the past.
    ANA LM • WBCC 429

    Amat Colligendo Focum

    Top 10FOR SALE

    image
  • SmEagle1795SmEagle1795 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: LochNESS
    Originally posted by: SmEagle1795
    I think there is some demand for a Redbook-equivalent for ancients, picking the top X,000 types (covering all would be impractical but picking maybe 7,000 coins like the Redbook would be doable, and possibly more useful than just the "100 Greatest Ancients" by HJB)


    SmEagle, seeing your signature again, after a while of not (I was yeti for some time), I clicked to view your Colosseo Collection again. I missed it and I'm not on my desktop where it is bookmarked.

    Even though I know how amazing it is, I still was blown away by the pieces.

    There seems to be many new members lately.

    If you are new to the boards, and have not seen SmEagle's collection, you MUST! You absolutely must. I know others will back me up on this. Here is the link again if you haven't scrolled up to find it:

    colosseocollection.com

    To get back on topic, regarding this quoted text, I have always felt that scope and market pricing were the factors preventing books like this from being written about ancients and errors, respectively. Digital media, which is able to be constantly updated without republishing, may be the solution here.

    When I was a kid, I loved flipping through the pages of Krause. Now as an adult collector, I simply update my catalogs the way I update software. Certainly a book of your authorship and specialty would demand more respect. A hardcover, and a signature if possible image but I think you get my point. Embrace technology where possible and it may solve whatever was holding back authors of the past.


    Thanks! I appreciate the compliments image


    Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
  • element159element159 Posts: 493 ✭✭✭
    Yes, that is a magnificent presentation, SmEagle1795. My favorite one is the Egypt captured one imageAegyptoCapta
    image
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What books need to be written?




    Perhaps to properly answer that question, one needs a book ABOUT all the books that HAVE been written.



    In other words, a numismatic bibliography, with alphabetical sections by topic and by author, with a short (1-2 sentence) synopsis of everything readily available that's been published in the 21st and latter half of the 20th century.



    I'm sure there are such bibliographies, but I don't know how exhaustive they are.



    Some of the numismatic booksellers out there would be good folks to compile and/or contribute to this.

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: SmEagle1795

    I think there is some demand for a Redbook-equivalent for ancients, picking the top X,000 types (covering all would be impractical but picking maybe 7,000 coins like the Redbook would be doable, and possibly more useful than just the "100 Greatest Ancients" by HJB)




    I also like this idea, but pricing data would have to be very generalized and expressed in ranges, most likely, due to the infinite variables presented by ancient coin designs, styles, etc.



    The Klawans "Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins" now put out by Whitman is an excellent little general guide, quite affordable, and probably the closest thing to a "Red Book for Ancient Coins" out there, though of course it does not go into pricing at all, for understandable reasons. Compiling a priceguide for ancients is probably a potential minefield and not a task I would like to take on. (In fact, to use an ancient metaphor, it sounds like a "Thirteenth Labor of Hercules" to me!)




    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • SmEagle1795SmEagle1795 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: lordmarcovan
    Originally posted by: SmEagle1795
    I think there is some demand for a Redbook-equivalent for ancients, picking the top X,000 types (covering all would be impractical but picking maybe 7,000 coins like the Redbook would be doable, and possibly more useful than just the "100 Greatest Ancients" by HJB)


    I also like this idea, but pricing data would have to be very generalized and expressed in ranges, most likely, due to the infinite variables presented by ancient coin designs, styles, etc.

    The Klawans "Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins" now put out by Whitman is an excellent little general guide, quite affordable, and probably the closest thing to a "Red Book for Ancient Coins" out there, though of course it does not go into pricing at all, for understandable reasons. Compiling a priceguide for ancients is probably a potential minefield and not a task I would like to take on. (In fact, to use an ancient metaphor, it sounds like a "Thirteenth Labor of Hercules" to me!)



    Indeed, I think a true priceguide wouldn't be ideal here, but maybe just a rough "$" "$$" "$$$" "$$$$" like Yelp to give a ballpark price. I think an easily accessed website/book which covers a very wide variety of types and collecting strategies (Muses, Hadrian's Travel Series, Historical Figures, denomination sets, etc.) would help give direction to collectors.

    I've had a handful of conversations with various people and they've said this is badly needed, which I find a bit surprising, but I can't say I've found an exact book like this myself.
    Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
  • carabonnaircarabonnair Posts: 1,387 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm not very good at Russian, so I appreciate books in English on Central Asian numismatics. A translation of Smirnova's book on Sogdian coins would be great.
  • pruebaspruebas Posts: 4,302 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: lordmarcovan

    What books need to be written?




    Perhaps to properly answer that question, one needs a book ABOUT all the books that HAVE been written.



    In other words, a numismatic bibliography, with alphabetical sections by topic and by author, with a short (1-2 sentence) synopsis of everything readily available that's been published in the 21st and latter half of the 20th century.



    I'm sure there are such bibliographies, but I don't know how exhaustive they are.



    Some of the numismatic booksellers out there would be good folks to compile and/or contribute to this.




    This does exist, written by the late Elvira Clain-Steffanelli, the former curator of numismatics at the Smithsonian. It's out of print and very good, but unfortunately ends in the 1980s and everything published since then probably equals everything published up to then in volume.
  • TiborTibor Posts: 3,200 ✭✭✭✭✭
    An easy to follow Red Book style volume for each country or time period. While the
    Spink book is good for England it could be made a little easier to follow. Spanish coins
    have a book written by Cayon, but it like the Spink issue is difficult to follow in certain
    areas. I would gladly buy one for my library and donate one to the ANA library as well.
    Of course the only hope some of us have is to buy CD versions of the Krause century
    issues and piece together the info we desire.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: Tibor

    An easy to follow Red Book style volume for each country or time period. While the

    Spink book is good for England it could be made a little easier to follow. Spanish coins

    have a book written by Cayon, but it like the Spink issue is difficult to follow in certain

    areas. I would gladly buy one for my library and donate one to the ANA library as well.

    Of course the only hope some of us have is to buy CD versions of the Krause century

    issues and piece together the info we desire.





    I totally agree.

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  • SYRACUSIANSYRACUSIAN Posts: 6,445 ✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: pruebas

    The Zeros of Zimbabwe.






    This is actually an excellent subject. I wouldn't bother with Zimbabwe, but there aren't any books explaining the hyperinflation that several European countries went through after WW2 and how they've dealt with it.



    Then again, this is a book that would be of interest to those of us who don't discriminate between coins and banknotes...image



    Dimitri



    myEbay



    DPOTD 3
  • pruebaspruebas Posts: 4,302 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: SYRACUSIAN

    Originally posted by: pruebas

    The Zeros of Zimbabwe.






    This is actually an excellent subject. I wouldn't bother with Zimbabwe, but there aren't any books explaining the hyperinflation that several European countries went through after WW2 and how they've dealt with it.



    Then again, this is a book that would be of interest to those of us who don't discriminate between coins and banknotes...image





    Thank you Syracusian. I'm glad somebody got it. image

  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,194 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You know what I'd like to see more than an "ancient Red Book"?



    A 1501-1600 16th century edition of Krause. I thought I heard rumors of one in the works once upon a time, but I suppose that could also have been wishful thinking on my part.



    image

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