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New Jersey Coppers...reference?

Aside from Edward Maris, A Historical Sketch of the Coins of New Jersey what other nice reference books are there on
New Jersey Coppers?
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  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes...

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    The Copper Coinage of the State of New Jersey - Annotated Manuscript of Damon Douglas, edited by Gary Trudgen

    American Numismatic Society, 2003, 126 pages, large format, brown cloth, dust jacket.

    When the American Revolutionary War ended in 1783, there was no central mint to supply the newly independent states with coinage. In fact, nearly a decade passed before Congress formed the US Mint in 1792 and attempted to unify the growing nation's coin types. In the meantime, some of the states produced their own coins, under what were often primitive and difficult circumstances. Mute witnesses to our nation's beginnings, these coinages have not always received the proper study they deserve. A case in point are the copper coins minted by the State of New Jersey, some of the more interesting state coinages because of their design and the circumstances under which they were made.

    Decades ago, Damon G. Douglas began an extensive research project on the history of the New Jersey state coins. This important project was never completed, but Douglas' unfinished manuscript was acquired by the American Numismatic Society where it has been one of the more frequently consulted items on early state coinages in the library collection. In the interest of making Douglas' work more widely available, the American Numismatic Society publishes this valuable study for the first time. In addition, the manuscript has been annotated by prominent specialists on New Jersey coppers in order to bring the work up to date [David D. Gladfelter, Roger A. Moore, Md, FAAP, Gary A. Trudgen, Dennis P. Wierzba, Raymond J. Williams.]
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • RTSRTS Posts: 1,408
    Thank you Mr. Broadstruck.
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  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thank you Mr. Broadstruck. >>



    image PM Sent image
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • TheRegulatorTheRegulator Posts: 1,237 ✭✭✭
    The annotated Damon Douglas manuscript Broadstruck mentioned is the only book I have on New Jersey coppers. While it does contain some interesting information, it is extremely dry and terse. Mostly direct passages and excerpts from first sources in what is essentially a rough, unfinished first draft of a book that was never finished. The annotations are helpful.

    I did once flip through the QDB book on colonials at a coins show as was disappointed. In the NJ section, there were about six varieties per page with images and a brief description of each variety. I felt it was not worth the price.

    In my opinion, the Carlotto book on Vermont coppers is the gold standard on colonials. A perfect example of how great a numismatic book can be.

    You may want to put some time into researching the better auction catalogs on NJ pieces. CVM had/has some catalogs on his website. Often times, the write-ups for each lot have some great information and insight.
    The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. -Thomas Jefferson
  • lakeshorelakeshore Posts: 178 ✭✭
    The book by Will Nipper titled "In Yankee Doodle's Pocket" is a wonderfully written, easily read history of early America as told through its colonial coinage. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is sophisticated enough for the serious collector, and also easily readable for those with just a casual interest in some or all of the colonial series. Also, it is my understanding that a new book on New Jersey coppers is in the works by several notable collectors of the coinage. I think the book is being supported by C4, the Colonial Coin Collectors Club. These books seem to take a long time to complete (at least by impatient collectors like me); but like Tony Carlotto's book on the coinage of Vermont, well worth the wait.

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