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BOOK REVIEW: DOTAN, WATERCRAFT ON WORLD COINS VOLUME II
Author Yossi Dotan kindly sent me a copy of the latest volume in his series on watercraft on world coins. Watercraft on World Coins Volume II: America and Asia 1800-2008 was published this year by The Alpha Press. Volume I came out in 2007, covering Europe. Volume III will cover Africa and Oceana 1800-2011.
The format is identical to Volume I, which I reviewed in November 2007. Much of what I said then still applies to Volume II: I have to say this is probably one of the best books I've ever seen on a topical numismatic subject. No mere catalog, the book delves deeply into the background of each coin, providing anywhere from a few sentences to a full page of information about each coin, its history and design, and the history of the watercraft depicted. Krause-Mishler (KM) numbers are used, providing easy cross-reference to the standard price catalogues. This is ideal, for a topical book has a far longer shelf-life than price catalogs, and had any prices been included they would quickly become outdated. QUICK QUIZ: which coins in the U.S. Statehood Quarter Dollar series picture watercraft? They are all listed and pictured here. How many other U.S. coins (including commemoratives) picture watercraft? This chapter of the book would make a great guide for building an interesting collection and exhibit of U.S. coins. There are quite a few coin designs that I really like. Some of the U.S. design are among them, but I also like a 1964 25 fils coins from Yemen, picturing a traditional fishing dhow (p331). The volume passes my back-of-the-book test: there is a detailed six-page index and an impressive five-page Select Bibliography. Thoughtfully included is a section with additions and errata to Volume I, Europe. The back cover provides a short bio of Dotan, "a numisnautical researcher, a recognized expert in modern coins which depict watercraft. 'Ship coins' have fascinated him for 30 years. He is a contributor to the Standard Catalog of World Coins." The 346-page paperback book is illustrated with some 500 coin images and is priced at £49.50 ($79.95). For more information or to order, see: www.sussex-academic.co.uk/sa/titles/alpha_press/dotan.htm . To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: REVIEW: WATERCRAFT ON WORLD COINS, VOLUME I BY YOSSI DOTAN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n45a05.html) THE BOOK BAZARREWayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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