Unusual World Coins Paperback – October 13, 2011

If you've ever seen an "unknown" coin and didn't know what it was, this catalog is likely to have it. Countries are listed from A-Z and the information includes illustrations, metal used in the coin, mintage (when known) and approximate value. This is an indispensable tool for coin collectors!

This edition is definitely an improvement on previous issues although not necessarily because there is a new editor in place. The fact is that this and those are fantastic books for fantastic 'coin' issues. I wrote an earlier review for the 4th edition of this catalogue. Everything I said there holds up here. For those unfamiliar with it this catalogue is issued as a companion to the 'Standard Catalogue of World Coins,' with the difference being that the Unusual World coins found within this tome are/were for the most part Not/Never Were Legal Tender.Most of what is catalogued was meant to be used as coinage, but were and are used to raise money as souvenirs. Some of it is nominally legal tender (think Palau) but really can't be used as such. Some of it was created out of protest (Norfed, Hutt River Province). Some of it really was used at one time by breakaway republics (Think Chinese Issues). Some of it is just done for fun.This edition is greatly expanded over the 4th (the latter being some 250 pps shorter in length). For instance the 2005 edition listed, I think, 3 different Alaska golds. This one has a dozen or more. I notice that the Hutt River Province has been fleshed out with the addtion of some varieties and some new gold coins. In addition to expanded sections of things such as this, there are many new entries, notably a whole series of issues on behalf of African tribal entities.Along with the beefed up existing entries and the entirely new listings is a larger selection of tables, e.g. monetary value of gold and silver by weight, conversion tables and a few other tables I can't recall off hand. In other words helpful more universal information.Despite the added bulk, the present book is not unhandily large. It is still something, unlike its sister publication, that is easy to leaf through and carry from bookshelf to desk.I highly recommend this edition even though there is a more contemporary one siimply on the basis of economics.The following are some niggles: I do wish the editors would, instead of adding a bunch of new stuff, add some actual EDITORIAL commentary to accompany the existing entries. Next to nothing is said about pretty much everything in the book and I think that stinks. I'd like to know a bit of the historical background. Also, it appears that little or no effort is spent on obtaining mintage numbers. I would like to know this stuff.This book rates four stars because it is the only game in town and because the game it plays is a pretty darned good one.

This is a catalogue where you can find all the coins that for various reasons did not make it to Standard Catalog of World Coins (a.k.a. Krause). Some of them were issued without consent of the countries for which they were allegedly produced, some were produced as souvenirs never meant for circulation, some are the produce of enterpreneurial spirit, while some are simple fraud. The volume which has grown since last edition by over 180 pages includes all the latest crazes on the numismatic market - the euro coins issued for territories which do not issue separate coinage (Madeira, Azores), do not issue enough real coinage (Monaco, Vaticane) or do not use the euro at all (Moldova, Belarus etc.), and various African coins - both those denominated in africas and those issued "for various African tribes". You will find here also some quite genuine and (well, almost or quasi) official coins as well, such as Swedish and Norwegian "largesse" money (distributed at various royal feasts) or Swiss "shooting thalers".It is good to have the catalog for two reasons - you may finely locate some coins you bought because they were nice and strange, and you may see what people can do to make their dreams come true. Obviously, some dream of establishing their own states (Hutt River Province, Minerva), some dream of living in the past or in literary fiction (Shire, Middle Earth), and some only dream of getting rich quick (well, almost everything else in the volume...).

This catalog and guide is an excellent resource for finding and identifying those oddball pieces you won't find in your ordinary coin guide. If you enjoy collecting fantasy issues, token coinage, and micronation issues in addition to normal coins and tokens then this book is perfect to add to your assortment of World and US coin guides.Most listings come with a detailed and to-scale photograph with the exception of a few obscure and difficult to find issues. The oddest shaped coins are a real treat to see.George Cuhaj has done a great job compiling all these oddities into one complete and must have guide for those who like to collect things outside the usual bounds of numismatics.

It contains a lot of material that has nothing to do with numismatics. Like, some (Canadian?) started minting coins from non-existent entities, but many people think they are genuine. Maybe, the volume' goal should be to unmask the man and show in each and every instance that what is represented is not coins, at all.

You need this as it covers many (all?) of the newer issues that have come out. That said, some coins from earlier editions are missing. I see that George Cuhaj is the editor lately on most (all?) of the Krause catalogs these days. Maybe he would do a better job if he had less to edit. Disappointing.

Everything ok. Thanks! A+++

The description and photo shows the 6th edition (ISBN 978-1440217029, 744 pages, published in 2011), but when I ordered it I received the 5th edition (ISBN 978-0896895768, 624 pages, published in 2007) which Amazon carries but at a lower price.

Can be useful when you come across a coin. E.g. you get a coin you can't find in the general edition.

None

El pedido ha resultado totalmente satisfactorio para mi gusto personal, todo conforme a la descripción inicial del producto ofertado. Gracias.

No me gusta el formato de lectura de kindle sobre todo para catalogo, no se puede visualizar a mi gusto

Ras