“United States Proof Coins 1936-1942.”
RogerB
Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
Printer’s proofs of the much anticipated book, “United States Proof Coins 1936-1942,” have been approved and are in the printer’s hands. Thanks the many collectors and coin dealers who generously provided comments, suggestions and images.
Here’s the basic table of contents:
Foreword by Q. David Bowers 11
Acknowledgements 13
Origin of Modern Proof Coinage 15
Manufacturing Proof Coins 23
Summary of Proof Coins by Date 55
Proof Coins by Denomination 93
Lincoln Cents 95
Five Cents (Nickels) 131
Liberty (“Mercury”) Dimes 194
Washington Quarters 236
Walking Liberty Half Dollars 281
Bibliography 330
The book is 330 pages, full color with hundreds of illustrations. It covers this series in detail down to the number of pieces struck from each die, when dies were pulled from service, delivery dates of coins and quantities sold and returned for destruction. A few brief excerpts have been posted here in the past.
Overall, there is surprisingly little duplication of content between the chapters. It has been amazing to go through the data and analysis, and then see results and explanations appear – almost magical. Publication is about a year late due to the cost of color printing.
Each book comes with a CD-ROM containing the full text in searchable format. Experience with this approach for the book “From Mine to Mint” demonstrated that it is much more effective, convenient and accessible than a printed index. The digital file may also be transferred to the purchaser’s portable digital device for use away from home or office.
Comments
@RogerB
Who will be distributing the books? When and where can I buy a copy?
Roger, this is a great book I am sure, thanks for your continued research. will you be having a pre-order of any kind?? I'm all in, hip deep!!
Oh well!
It might get me hooked collecting a series that has intrigued me for a decade or so.
Wizard Coin Supply is the distributor. I don't have a delivery date for the books+CDs yet. When that information is available, I'll post something on the BST forum. The following titled threads will show some examples of content.
1940 Proof Quarter excerpt, as requested.
A little something for Proof Jefferson fans - 1939 Rev 1940
Something more for Proof Jefferson fans - 1940 Rev 1938/39
Looking forward to getting a copy!
Good news and congratulations!
Looking forward to ordering a copy as well.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Want.
Ca't wait to buy it! Congrats, Roger.
Lance.
Excellent news. But, please also post the availability of the book in this thread on the US coins forum. I don't check the BST very frequently and I expect others may be in the same boat.
I feel strangely afraid of this book....
Roger,
How can we get a signed copy of the new book? Like your previous book "from Mine to Mint"
Count me in
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Count me in as one who wants to purchase this book.
I have always liked 1936-1942 proof coinage and have a couple of these sets (40 & 42) plus a few singles. One day I will expand from the 1950-1970 proof and SMS coinage that I (and a few others) collect and spend some time and money adding the 1936-1942 sets to my collection. After that comes at least one set of proof coinage made from 1892-1916.
Thanks for heads up Roger: "From Mine to Mint" was exceptional; looking forward to your latest book.
+1
Looking forward to it!
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Will it be available in hardcover?
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
What will be the anticipated price?
Can't wait to read it! I like the +CD as well as I can put it on my iPad.
RE: "How can we get a signed copy of the new book?"
To get an autographed copy, all that is necessary is to request it at the time the order is placed. I will sign some copies before Wizard beings shipping books so there will be no delay.
RE: "Will it be available in hardcover? What is the price?"
It's in soft cover, only. Wizard will determine the selling price once they have the books.
RE: +CD. Including a searchable CD with the printed book got high marks for customer satisfaction with "From Mine to Mint." It allows full text searching by any terms the collector wishes, and gives everyone a portable version for field and coin show use.
Great news Roger. The Walkers and Mercs from this era have long been of special interest for me. Cheers, RickO
Congrats on getting to this point. I spent the better part of three years obsessively putting together the entire proof run of cents thru halves 1936-42. When you announced the concept of this book, I shared some of my experiences with you thru this forum. The coins were sold to fund my business which has thrived, so I feel even more sentimental about the experience.
I hope the book does great and you can count me amongst the eager buyers of it!
Oh, and thanks for doing it!!!
Looking forward to it!
Fan of the Oxford Comma
CCAC Representative of the General Public
2021 Young Numismatist of the Year
Can't wait!
To 'Veep' and other collectors and coin dealers -- your ideas and comments helped me make significant improvements in the way information is presented in the book. Contributors are recognized in the book, and of course, there are appropriate credit lines as requested. Some people wanted to remain anonymous.
A project like this demands not only data research and collection of contemporary materials from archives, but the input of those closely familiar with the coins. After getting collector suggestions based on message board posts and a few emailed excerpts, significant changes were made to several parts of the book, along with correction of typos.
I feel the work is much better thanks to the help of so many. Everyone who contributed is really a co-author. This will likely be a standard reference for this short, but interesting series.
PS: Copies will be donated to the ANA for their library and use as incentives for YN activities. Books will also be given to several public libraries so it will be available through interlibrary loan.
hey Roger, were you able to find anything in your research that gives specific details about ordering/shipping coins from the Mint?? a topic of discussion that comes up from time-to-time is how exactly the Mint shipped the coins, if there was a particular box or carton they used for entire sets.
also, it seems more space was devoted to Nickels than the other denominations. was that because of the 1939-1940 Reverses and the 1942 types??
Not to suggest how you give your stuff away, but you could donate to the ANA Summer Seminar YN auctions. Proceeds go directly to the YN scholarships.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Good idea for the YN auctions. I'll let ANA determine the best use of the donated copies - they know the "insides" of the operation.
The nickels have more pages because of introduction of the Jefferson type and material relating to Schlag's promotional cards and the first pieces released. The hold-over dies also took additional space.
As for ordering/packing/shipping, that is discussed in all the detail I could locate. This work was being handled by the Medal Department, and they used most of the same materials as for packing and shipping medals. The proofs were not made as "sets." The five coins might have all been made the same week, or months apart -- there was no attempt to coordinate.
One thing that will "annoy" publishers is that the quantities of silver coins available for sale were lower than reported. This is because published mintages include assay coins, and all of these were destroyed on order from the Mint Director.
That is awesome. Glad to hear it!
Some great aesthetics on those designs and coins. The proofs especially if you can see them in cameo, are really special.
Can we buy directly from you? If so and we pay now, could we get a pre-release PDF?
I will be in for a copy for sure. Looking forward to it!
The interest is appreciated, but Wizard Coin Supply is the exclusive distributor. They have the fulfillment system and staff to handle orders. Those are things they can do much better than me. The CDs are being burned by the printer and will be delivered to Wizard along with the books. All I have are master data files which are kept on duplicate DVDs, along with the master files for my other publications and resource materials. [Nothing is stored in the "cloud" or the "fog."]
Ditto! Stoked.
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
That's great news, Roger, and congratulations on what I am sure will be another wildly successful and meaningful contribution to numismatic literature. The searchable CD is a nice touch as well. Keep up the great work.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Thanks to all for the kind remarks! When known, the availability date will be posted.
[Now back to the next research subject - production and distribution of pattern and experimental pieces: 1835-1882.]
This book will help those interested in collecting cameo proofs from this period, also. (As in the half dollar thread.)
The printer has advised that book delivery is expected about April 10, 2017.
getting closer to April 10
That's great, looking forward to it.
The CDs are already in stock. A couple were sent to ANA for immediate reference. The balance will be shrink wrapped with the printed books. (CDs will not be available separately.)
[Books and CDs were printed in the USA and on recycled paper, by professional union members.]
How much will it cost?
Fan of the Oxford Comma
CCAC Representative of the General Public
2021 Young Numismatist of the Year
The barcode has a retail price of $39.95, but resellers will determine the actual market price. ANA will also be given complimentary copies for use in youth activities, in addition to copies for the ANA library.
(Long ago it was promised that technology would reduce the cost of color printing. Well, maybe that's true for press runs of 100,000 copies -- but not for the short runs needed for numismatic books. These are much more expensive to print, now. Also, the CD takes the place of an index. It is fully searchable. This has proven popular with the book "From Mine to Mint" so I decided to do the same with this book.)
Roger,
A necessity for me, but am overladen with books. Any chance that you might make it available digitally?
The book comes with a CD with the full contents in PFD format. This serves as both searchable index and portable digital copy for personal use on "smart phones" and tablets.
Looking forward to this publication Roger.... Thanks, Cheers, RickO
Understood. Thx. Was hoping to just get digital. I'll purchase anyway. Thanks for taking the time to create another important project!
The books & CDs have arrived! They look great!
Once I have an initial shipping date, I'll put the information on the BST.
I've been checking Wizard every day.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
I'm autographing books Saturday, so they can be shipped right away. Not sure when the Wizard web site will have the books listed.