Book Review: 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens

Whitman has published a lavish (yet affordable) 148-page compendium,
"100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens", written by Katherine Jaeger
and Q. David Bowers. Recipient of a 2006 Heath Literary Award, Jaeger
was an editor for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(1979-1984) before turning to writing. Her works have been published
in American History and American Heritage magazines. Her article on
Indian Peace Medals ran in the August 2007 issue of American
Heritage. Dave Bowers, of course, needs no introduction here. Also
gracing this work are David T. Alexander and Russell Rulau who
contributed to the forward, Alexander writing on medals and Rulau on
tokens. In addition to the "100 Greatest", an appendix lists another
100 "might have been" nominees. The work is supported by a broad
bibliography.

Medal Number 1 is Libertas Americana. Number 100 is the Fort Sumter
Medal. Between these are many well-known to all collectors and quite
a few known only to specialists. Several honor numismatics itself.
Among them are George H. Lovett's "We all have our hobbies", the store
cards of Augustus Sage and the Bushnell medalet.

The book sells for $29.95, and is also available in leather binding
for $69.95.

Whitman's website (www.whitmanbooks.com) lists 40 different titles on
U.S., ancient and world coinage.

Michael E. Marotta
MSNS 7935
ANA R-162953

"Mike Marotta" wrote in message
...

Whitman has published a lavish (yet affordable) 148-page compendium,
"100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens", written by Katherine Jaeger
and Q. David Bowers. Recipient of a 2006 Heath Literary Award, Jaeger
was an editor for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(1979-1984) before turning to writing. Her works have been published
in American History and American Heritage magazines. Her article on
Indian Peace Medals ran in the August 2007 issue of American
Heritage. Dave Bowers, of course, needs no introduction here. Also
gracing this work are David T. Alexander and Russell Rulau who
contributed to the forward, Alexander writing on medals and Rulau on
tokens. In addition to the "100 Greatest", an appendix lists another
100 "might have been" nominees. The work is supported by a broad
bibliography.

Medal Number 1 is Libertas Americana. Number 100 is the Fort Sumter
Medal. Between these are many well-known to all collectors and quite
a few known only to specialists. Several honor numismatics itself.
Among them are George H. Lovett's "We all have our hobbies", the store
cards of Augustus Sage and the Bushnell medalet.

The book sells for $29.95, and is also available in leather binding
for $69.95.

Whitman's website (www.whitmanbooks.com) lists 40 different titles on
U.S., ancient and world coinage.

The nice thing about this compilation, as opposed to Whitman's 100 greatest
coins and 100 greatest paper money books, is that some of the items are
within easy reach of even the most modest budget. There is a Civil War
piece and even the OPA tokens are among the favored. Numismatic elitists,
of course, have already chimed in with their critique of the inclusion of
such mundane items.

James

Hard Times Tokens are also included. Both patriotic and store card
tokens from the Civil War are -- like the HTTs -- included as a
_class_ with several pictures of each. Also, note that "Am I Not A
Man and a Brother" (and its "Sister" companion) is a separate item,
though nominally they are HTTs according to the standard catalogs.
All of which is to say that picking the 100 Best of anything is going
to be a judgment call.

What should be the #1 coin, the average circulated Lincoln Cent? What
would be the #1 token? Would that be one of the HTTs or CWTs in
average circulated condition? Personally my favorite American medal
is one I own a Mint copy of, Laura Gardin Fraser's for Charles
Lindbergh. (I also have two Heath Awards one in silver the other in
bronze, also listed collectively under "ANA Medals" in the Second 100
at the back of the book.) What medal would "most" collectors be
likely to own?

I agree that many of these are beyond our reach as collectors.
However I also point out that even the most expensive medal in this
book costs less than a house. So theoretically if you wanted one you
could simply save for it radical as that may seem. Collectors fritter
away their money on damaged goods "with XF details" and then do not
have the resources to buy something worth owning. Myself I do most of
my shopping only at major conventions such as the ANA and CSNS and
MSNS. In six or twelve months I can toss enough quarters and dimes in
the cookie jar that I can afford to buy something -- typically a book
-- worth owning. I bought nothing this calendar year in fact. Last
year I bought a copy of the two-volume Poey D'Avant on French
coinage.

In article , Mike Marotta wrote:
Hard Times Tokens are also included. Both patriotic and store card
tokens from the Civil War are -- like the HTTs -- included as a
_class_ with several pictures of each. Also, note that "Am I Not A
Man and a Brother" (and its "Sister" companion) is a separate item,
though nominally they are HTTs according to the standard catalogs.
All of which is to say that picking the 100 Best of anything is going
to be a judgment call.

What should be the #1 coin, the average circulated Lincoln Cent? What
would be the #1 token? Would that be one of the HTTs or CWTs in
average circulated condition? Personally my favorite American medal
is one I own a Mint copy of, Laura Gardin Fraser's for Charles
Lindbergh. (I also have two Heath Awards one in silver the other in
bronze, also listed collectively under "ANA Medals" in the Second 100
at the back of the book.) What medal would "most" collectors be
likely to own?

I agree that many of these are beyond our reach as collectors.
However I also point out that even the most expensive medal in this
book costs less than a house. So theoretically if you wanted one you
could simply save for it radical as that may seem. Collectors fritter
away their money on damaged goods "with XF details" and then do not
have the resources to buy something worth owning. Myself I do most of
my shopping only at major conventions such as the ANA and CSNS and
MSNS. In six or twelve months I can toss enough quarters and dimes in
the cookie jar that I can afford to buy something -- typically a book
-- worth owning. I bought nothing this calendar year in fact. Last
year I bought a copy of the two-volume Poey D'Avant on French
coinage.

indeed. i've met several coin fanatics that were so interested in researching
the coins that they never quite go around to buying them. a really good friend
is vehement in proclaiming he is a collector of coins despite the facts he
doesn't own any.
he does have every redbook and early editions of pennt whimsey and many
others. but he's a coin collector, dammit!

On Dec 22, 2:52*pm, wrote:
... he doesn't own any. he does have every redbook and early
editions of pennt whimsey and many
others. but he's a coin collector, dammit! ...

Well, he is certainly a _numismatist_ if not truly a "coin"
collector. The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is the place for people
who collect books, auction catalogs and other literature about the
collecting of money objects. Their address is http://www.coinbooks.org/
Their E-Sylum mail list is popular even among collectors who are not
NBS members.

I agree that it is sort of, well, "detached" you might say, to collect
books _about_ coins, but not the coins themselves. On the other hand,
to gather up shiny objects without understanding what they are is the
action of crow or a packrat.

At some level, there must be a balance between the number of objects
and the amount of knowledge about them. So, this book, "100 Greatest
American Medals and Tokens" would be appropriate for someone who
actually pursues the material.

"Buy the book before you buy the coin." This advice originally came
from coin dealer Aaron R. Feldman (1894-1976). Feldman promoted
numismatic literature as the gateway to collecting. Today, thousands
of collectors follow his advice, building numismatic libraries one
volume at a time. (According to Bob Leonard, writing here in RCC in
reply to Ron Guth: "He used this slogan as a headline more than once
in his ads in The Numismatist in the 1960's (and maybe early 1970's).
You should be able to find him through the index of advertisers. I
don't recall seeing his ad in the Scrapbook, but perhaps he was in
there too."
Newsgroups: rec.collecting.coins
From: (RLWinnetka)
Date: 22 Mar 2001 02:02:45 GMT
Subject: Help - "Buy the Book Before The Coin" Ad

For all of that, yes, we still might view askance anyone who bought
the book _in lieu of_ the medals or tokens.

In article , Mike Marotta wrote:
On Dec 22, 2:52=A0pm, wrote:
... he doesn't own any. he does have every redbook and early
editions of pennt whimsey and many
others. but he's a coin collector, dammit! ...

Well, he is certainly a _numismatist_ if not truly a "coin"
collector. The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is the place for people
who collect books, auction catalogs and other literature about the
collecting of money objects. Their address is http://www.coinbooks.org/
Their E-Sylum mail list is popular even among collectors who are not
NBS members.

I agree that it is sort of, well, "detached" you might say, to collect
books _about_ coins, but not the coins themselves. On the other hand,
to gather up shiny objects without understanding what they are is the
action of crow or a packrat.

At some level, there must be a balance between the number of objects
and the amount of knowledge about them. So, this book, "100 Greatest
American Medals and Tokens" would be appropriate for someone who
actually pursues the material.

"Buy the book before you buy the coin." This advice originally came
from coin dealer Aaron R. Feldman (1894-1976). Feldman promoted
numismatic literature as the gateway to collecting. Today, thousands
of collectors follow his advice, building numismatic libraries one
volume at a time. (According to Bob Leonard, writing here in RCC in
reply to Ron Guth: "He used this slogan as a headline more than once
in his ads in The Numismatist in the 1960's (and maybe early 1970's).
You should be able to find him through the index of advertisers. I
don't recall seeing his ad in the Scrapbook, but perhaps he was in
there too."
Newsgroups: rec.collecting.coins
From: (RLWinnetka)
Date: 22 Mar 2001 02:02:45 GMT
Subject: Help - "Buy the Book Before The Coin" Ad

For all of that, yes, we still might view askance anyone who bought
the book _in lieu of_ the medals or tokens.

i remember his ads from the 60's. truly an intelligent, erudite man who had an
enviable life among those shiny metal discs as well as in the pulp.
yup also on the crow and packrat observation. sadly i know a few of what i
call coin hoarders. they collect everything while knowing nothing. at least a
couple will have some shocked and disappointed heirs.
but coin people are as varied as the varietys of coin in the world.
happy ho ho's to you nad yours.

wrote in message
.. .
In article
, Mike
Marotta wrote:
On Dec 22, 2:52=A0pm, wrote:
... he doesn't own any. he does have every redbook and early
editions of pennt whimsey and many
others. but he's a coin collector, dammit! ...

Well, he is certainly a _numismatist_ if not truly a "coin"
collector. The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is the place for people
who collect books, auction catalogs and other literature about the
collecting of money objects. Their address is http://www.coinbooks.org/
Their E-Sylum mail list is popular even among collectors who are not
NBS members.

I agree that it is sort of, well, "detached" you might say, to collect
books _about_ coins, but not the coins themselves. On the other hand,
to gather up shiny objects without understanding what they are is the
action of crow or a packrat.

At some level, there must be a balance between the number of objects
and the amount of knowledge about them. So, this book, "100 Greatest
American Medals and Tokens" would be appropriate for someone who
actually pursues the material.

"Buy the book before you buy the coin." This advice originally came
from coin dealer Aaron R. Feldman (1894-1976). Feldman promoted
numismatic literature as the gateway to collecting. Today, thousands
of collectors follow his advice, building numismatic libraries one
volume at a time. (According to Bob Leonard, writing here in RCC in
reply to Ron Guth: "He used this slogan as a headline more than once
in his ads in The Numismatist in the 1960's (and maybe early 1970's).
You should be able to find him through the index of advertisers. I
don't recall seeing his ad in the Scrapbook, but perhaps he was in
there too."
Newsgroups: rec.collecting.coins
From: (RLWinnetka)
Date: 22 Mar 2001 02:02:45 GMT
Subject: Help - "Buy the Book Before The Coin" Ad

For all of that, yes, we still might view askance anyone who bought
the book _in lieu of_ the medals or tokens.

i remember his ads from the 60's. truly an intelligent, erudite man who
had an
enviable life among those shiny metal discs as well as in the pulp.
yup also on the crow and packrat observation. sadly i know a few of what i
call coin hoarders. they collect everything while knowing nothing. at
least a
couple will have some shocked and disappointed heirs.
but coin people are as varied as the varietys of coin in the world.
happy ho ho's to you nad yours.

As for me, I'm having too much fun in this hobby to spend even a yactosecond
fretting about what another man collects, or how he collects it. Coin life
is good!

James

On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:05:25 -0800 (PST), Mike Marotta
wrote:

"Buy the book before you buy the coin." This advice originally came
from coin dealer Aaron R. Feldman (1894-1976). Feldman promoted
numismatic literature as the gateway to collecting. Today, thousands

If you're going to try to promote numismatic knowledge by quoting
people promoting numismatic knowledge, it probably makes sense to pay
some attention to getting the numismatic knowledge right. Aaron
Feldman wasn't a coin dealer. He was a coin literature dealer. His
slogan, a good one, promoted his business along with promoting
"literature as a gateway to collecting."

That was a good book review, you wrote. Sounds like a good book too.

--

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On Dec 24 2007, 8:47 pm, Reid Goldsborough
wrote:
If you're going to try to promote numismatic knowledge by quoting
people promoting numismatic knowledge, it probably makes sense to pay
some attention to getting the numismatic knowledge right.Aaron
Feldman wasn't a coin dealer. He was a coin literature dealer. His
slogan, a good one, promoted his business along with promoting
"literature as a gateway to collecting."

Aaron Feldman was a coin dealer. He sold his literature collection in
1973 to cover his medical expenses. He also pursued paper money and
was famous as a maven of Civil War Tokens and Hard Times Tokens.
After a career in millinery, he opened "the world's smallest coin
shop."

The ANA now awards an Aaron Feldman Prize for the best Exhibit of
literature. That prize was endowed by the Numismatic Bibliomania
Society in Feldman's name. Since the creation of The Aaron Feldman
Award for Literature, references to him, more often call him a
"literature dealer" but the point is moot.

That was a good book review, you wrote. Sounds like a good book too.
Thank you. It is, indeed, an awesome value. Whitman does fine work
and there is no topping the research of Q. David Bowers (who bought
coins from Aaron Feldman) and Heath awardee Katie Jaegers. I
recommend this book as a bargain at twice the price.

Mike M.

On Thu, 3 Jan 2008 18:56:42 -0800 (PST), Mike Marotta
wrote:

Aaron Feldman was a coin dealer. He sold his literature collection in
1973 to cover his medical expenses. He also pursued paper money and
was famous as a maven of Civil War Tokens and Hard Times Tokens.
After a career in millinery, he opened "the world's smallest coin
shop."

You mention that sources get this wrong. You might be right. You might
be wrong. What's your source for your saying Feldman was a coin dealer
and not a coin literature dealer?

A *lot* of sources refer to Feldman as a coin literature dealer,
including the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, which as you point out
named one of its awards after Feldman. It's difficult to fathom how
they would get this wrong. Coin World, a publication you used to work
for, also refers to Feldman as a coin literature dealer. As does the
Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation. And others who appear to have people
working for them who've been around long enough to know what Aaron
Feldman did. PCGS on the other hand refers to his New York City coin
shop.

You'll forgive my skepticism about what you post suggesting he didn't
buy and sell coin literature as part of his business. Anybody here
know if Feldman was only a coin dealer or both a coin and coin
literature dealer? A lot of coin dealers do both, of course, selling
Red Books and such. But if Feldman sold coins and was significantly
involved with also selling specialized coin literature, then it
wouldn't be wrong to call him either a coin dealer or a coin
literature dealer. If he was only a coin dealer, then the sources who
get this wrong, I'd think, would want to make the correction.

--

Email: (delete "remove this")

Consumer: http://rg.ancients.info/guide
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