Dr. Kagin sent a request to Esylum, asking for input regarding the 2nd edition of the Private Gold b

I copied and pasted a request that Dr. Kagin submitted to the Esylum, asking for input related to his Private Gold book, which is currently being produced as a 2nd edition. I think this is well overdue, and I am excited. I was hoping the book can come out before 2010, but I guess these things take time.

[edited to add that the request by Dr. Kagin originally went to the members of the Society for Private and Pioneer Numismatics, not the Esylum. It was reprinted in the Esylum].

The request is below, along with a bunch of questions. Perhaps we can take a crack at answering them, and helping out the good doctor.

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"As we prepare for the much needed update of this reference work, we would like to invite your input on how to make this a better work. To begin, we will be asking you a few questions (mainly concerning questions about the catalog portion of the book); some of which we grappled with 30 years ago in compiling the first edition.

Here are a few questions to get your creative juices started. You can also add your own questions. Please feel free to email, call or just chat with us at an upcoming coin show about your ideas.

Whitman publishing has tentatively scheduled publication in 2010; but that really does not give us much time to implement needed changes (especially color plate coins). So please contact us as soon as possible. Your contribution will be noted in the upcoming edition. Thank you. Don

1. Should we change the name of the book to Pioneer Gold and Patterns of the United States. Or to another name?

2. Should we include foot(end) notes which will require another 10 or so pages? We left this out of the first edition.

3. Since there will be a number of changes to the pattern section of the book, we tentatively plan to renumber by company as before, allowing for new discoveries and by adding a P before each number. Should we also use the P designation for Restrikes and Fantacies, etc. or use separate prefix letters for them? Your thoughts?

4. Do you agree with the chronological die order of the Bechtler coinage? If we decide that, for instance, K7 came before K6 or K9 before K8, do we change the K numbers around (please keep in mind some grading company pop reports and even some tags are keyed into our current grading numbers)?

5. Do you agree with our current editions rendering of what is the obverse and reverse die for the Bechtlers? Other references disagree, including one which believes the name Bechtler should be the determining factor for the obverse die.

6. It has been determined that a few pieces should not be in the main section of the book. One, like the USAO #3 is not a separate variety but a tooled coin not available to examine 30 years ago. Should we completely renumber the rest or just leave out this number?

7. Do we completely renumber those series such as USAO to accommodate every die variety such as a small 7 vs. Large 7 as does Breen? Should these be new a numbers? Or put another way, What should constitute a new number vs. a sub letter e.g. (a) vs. a sub number e.g. [(1)]?

8. In the pattern section we think the latter designation of sub numbers should be for those coins that have been gilt and the subletters for designating either Plain or Reeded Edge. Or should we use subletters just for designating different medals, or both?

9. Many L.E. slugs have missing letters on edges, upside down impressions, or upside down 50 or even clashed dies. How should we designate these, or should we just mention that they exist?

10. Do you believe that the Moffat $20s should be numbered with the USAO pieces or under Moffat or both?

Please keep in mind that while we want this book to be as accurate and comprehensive as possible we want this to be simple to use. That is why we placed companies in alphabetical order within the three gold rushes, rather than chronological order. We also plan to add a chapter on pioneer coins found on shipwrecks; and to add pedigrees under the plate coins. Of course we will also modify rarity figures."