The images below are from a booklet on US commemorative coins (traditional series) that I own. It's an interesting little volume, but it doesn't "give up" much info about its author or publisher (I've come up empty so far in my research into it). Maybe someone out there knows something about it?
The booklet does not clearly specify the author, though "Von" appears in two locations (cover and inside title page) where an author's name often appears (See Image #1, bottom right). There is no publisher information, though I suspect it was self-published by a coin dealer and made available to his/her clientele. There is a small ad at the back of the booklet soliciting requests for "Our buying list..." with interested parties directed to Box 2441, Hollywood, California; no dealer name is included.
The booklet begins with a brief discussion of how US commemoratives came to be, followed by a few general comments about the series as a whole. A few notes about collecting the series and current retail pricing is also included. The balance of the booklet is devoted to coverage of each coin in the series with one or two pages devoted to each. The information included is basic and the included illustrations are often dark and difficult to discern details from (See Image #2), but it's clearly the work of someone who enjoyed US commemorative coins and thought it worthwhile to put together a summary of the series for collectors (customers?).
I believe the booklet was printed in 1967 as it mentions how prices are included for 1955 and "Today" with a reference to the increases in prices over the 12 years since 1955.
I'm guessing few are aware of this little volume -- I wasn't until I "stumbled" upon it -- so I hope you found this brief introduction interesting and an "inspiration" to look for a copy for your own library.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone with "hard" info on this little volume!
Image#1: Front Cover of Booklet (faded light green)
Image #2: Page Devoted to Columbian Half-Dollar
Posted 03/07/2012 12:49 pm
