Reference Books

I acquired these 2 books recently. Both are like new and have some interesting info in them.

The font looks old perhaps the 1800's but I was not able to attribute Ambler. The stamps with a border tend to be earlier on the whole.

There is an Ambler, Penn that dates back to just after the Civil War (1869) so a link there is possible.

Temple University has a campus in Ambler that dates back to about 1910 - even that is a possibility.

Business and Industry in the town returned no solid leads.

The fact that the coin used is a 2 bit that was demonetized in 1857 requires that the use (provided it is of US origin) should be relatively close in time to 1857.

I will come back to this thread in that I would like to collect 8 Reales...or 4 Reales SOME DAY...but first must get my post-grad in fake coins!
Quoting Swamperbob:





I just knew that Slabbed Coins from TPG were not the be-all, end-all and that Caveat Emptor reigned supreme...glad somebody had the stones to actually run an experiment and get hard data on this 8-reales situation.Thank you so much Swamperbob!
Instead of buying coins I will instead focus on books about them for now. Thanks again! My view is improved only in that I stand on the shoulders of giants....

And here is my personal search term so I can find this thread again:
#8 Reales Rosetta Stone Booklist.

I was going through some old catalogues and ran across a publication that is more of a reference than a catalogue, its Ponterios sale #46 CICF 1991 hardcover

The sale featured the Amat collection, catalogued and researched by Freeman Craig. Howard Herz did the photography. Manuel Amat I Junyent was a very popular viceroy of I think Peru. The collection was dedicated to Amat's memory by one of his heirs.

This collection had virtually all of the central and south American 8Rs, but most of the key minors. I think Gilboy reused some of their photos. GIL SC-8-1 plate coin is the same one that in the 91 sale that fetched $5k. The catalogue photos are better than Gilboy.

Most coins have write-ups and it includes portrait coinage. The photos are superb. Every important central and south American coin 1732-1821 is pictured.

I have no idea where to get another copy but would think that they show up on the Internet.

I agree Buttrey and Hubbard's 6th edition is better than the earlier editions because of the expanded contents.

I posted a counterfeit 8 reales (1817 Mexico) today in a new thread. Take a look at it and see if you can tell me any specifics about it.

Thanks,

Bill Payne

For a guide on how to grade New Zealand pre-decimal coins look for a long out of print book:

"Coins of British Oceania" Robert L Clarke ( third edition published in 1966)


the book has a grading guide in the last pages of the book even though not the american system, it gives a very good idea on where to look for wear on the coin and helps identify high grade pieces. Long out of print it can still be found cheaply A quick search on Abe books found this example( a later edition):


http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/B...sh%2BOceania

{Note: I am not the seller! and make no endorsement of that particular seller}


I found out about the book from a leading NZ Numismatist who uses Clark as a guide for grading. For the cost and the fact that the book is so cheap its a no-brainer to add to your library even if you have just a passing interest in NZ pre-decimal coins.

I recently obtained a copy of Robert A. Levonson's 2007 book "The early dated Coins of Europe 1234 - 1500". Publisher The coin and currency Institute inc. ISBN 978-0-87184-600-6 . Its an interesting read and is useful but some of the approach,for me, was slightly jarring. The main point of disquiet was the use of modern national borders. I suspect because I am used to dealing with the contemporary view(of the period the book covers) of Europe. Levinson lumps many of the coins of Middle Europe under the title German when Germany really didn't exist until the 19th century. Analyzing my discomfort I think I would have lumped these principalities under a different title "Holy Roman Empire" That said it is only a matter of Opinion and for those interested in the time period it is a very good book. I certainly appreciate the utility of the book.