The World Encyclopedia of Coins and Coin Collecting: The Definitive Illustrated Reference to the World's Greatest Coins and a Professional Guide to Bu

by James A. MacKay

Book Overview

This is the ultimate expert guide to coins and coin collecting, fully updated for this new edition. An in-depth introduction to the origins, anatomy and usage of coins looks at the birth of the world's first currencies. Practical advice on evaluating grade and condition will enable the amateur to gauge the value of their latest acquisitions, and step-by-step techniques show how to restore and preserve coins of all ages. The country-by-country directory...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0754823458
• ISBN13: 9780754823452
• Release Date: November 2010
• Publisher: Lorenz Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 2.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.8" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

The World Encyclopedia of Coins and Coin Collecting Review

I gave this book to my nine year old granddaughter, she carred around and read it and showed it to her friends. They were amazed at the beauty of the coins and did not have any idea that coins could be interesting as well as useful. The book was written in high interest and easy understanding style. Coin collecting is an old but facinating hobby, I loved the fact my granddaughter is interested in it and it gets her up and doing something other than sitting and watching TV or playing video stuff. She loves the book and took it to school and it recieved great amount of praise. Sandi Ackerman

A Gift

This was a gift so that is why I only rated it 4 stars. The person who received the gift really enjoys reading this book and uses it as a reference constantly.

fine illustraded encyclopedia

great book about coins around the world, many images, coin history facts and collecting guide for every collector, sure increase coin collector knowlegde

Very Nicely illustrated, errors in text

I purchased a copy of "The Complete Illustrated Guide to Coins and Coin Collecting" by Dr James Mackay. This is a paperback edition of encyclopedia with similar cover. I found it a beautifully illustrated book but was Shocked to read the text of the introduction to Sri Lanka. It contained many factual errors and reflected a total ignorance of the History and Numismatics of Sri Lanka. Let me point out a few. 1) Lankan coinage is documented from 3rd Century B.C. 2) The Chola were from south India and invaded Lanka only in 985 and subjugated the Sinhala who migrated and took over the island from the indigenous Veddahs in the 5th Century B. C. 3) Images [1-2] is a Portuguese Tanga counter-marked by dutch 4) The rupee was not in par with the Rix dollar 1 1/3 (i.e. 4/3) rupees equaled 1 Rix Dollar in 1821 5) The 1/3 Farthing did not circulate in Lanka. 6) Images [3-4] is a half cent from 1870 not a fraction of farthing 7) There was no Local currency from 1839 to 1868 - Indian Silver was used along side British brass. 8) The new emblem was adopted in 1972 coins. 9) Images [13-16] were of commemorative coins issued after 1990 10) The Images [13-14] is slightly smaller than actual size. In view of these numerous errors in a short bit of text of which I am an expert, I have lost all confidence in the text printed in the guide. I strongly suggest that like Krause, Anness publications, get experts in the numismatics to review and correct the text for each country. In views of these errors I have corrected the text below and hope this modified text will be used in any future reprints of this Guide or Encyclopedia. ========================================================================== A number of islands in the Indian Ocean, which were formerly part of the British or French colonial empires, issue their own coins. They range from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), which has a coinage dating back to the 3rd century BC, to the territories that have adopted distinctive coins only in quite recent times. Following the capture of the island of Ceylon from the Dutch in 1796, and its proclamation as a British crown colony six years later, copper coins were issued by the British in 1802. They bore an Asian elephant on one side and the value or the effigy of George III on the other. SRI LANKA The earliest coins were Punch Mark silver of northern India. The Ancient coins of Lanka had the railed Swastika. Medieval Gold, Silver and Copper coins with Standing King "Ceylon Type" were issued from 9th to 15th Century. Coastal area of the island was under Chinese control from 1408 to 1438. Portuguese arrived in 1505. They, in turn, were supplanted by the Dutch in 1658, who counter-marked the Portuguese silver tangas [1-2]. The British took over the Dutch territories in 1796 and made the island into a crown colony in 1802. The British retained the Indo-Dutch currency system, based on the rix-dollar, divided into 48 stivers, or 12 fanams. From

Coins of the World

This is a great book, beautifully illustrated. Bought it for my niece who has just started collecting foreign coins. It is easy to use, fully illustrated, and gives great background on foreign countries and their history as well as information regarding the coins themselves. Would highly recommend this book.