BOOK REVIEW: WATERCRAFT ON WORLD COINS, VOLUME III

Author Yossi Dotan kindly sent me a copy of the latest volume in his series on ship coins. Watercraft on World Coins Volume III: Africa and Oceana 1800-2011 was published last year by The Alpha Press. Volume I came out in 2007, covering Europe. Volume II came out in 2010, covering America and Asia.

Ship coins are one of the most widely collected themes in numismatics. These volumes are a great service to the hobby and an excellent model for researchers in other topical areas.

The format is thankfully identical to those of the first two volumes, making for a well-matched set on the shelf. I have yet to come across a topical numismatic book that does a better job of organizing and presenting its subject. Entries are of varying length, and clearly well-researched and written. Most entries are illustrated with a black and white image of the coin, with the actual diameter noted.

In the book's press release author Dotan noted:

As with the first two volumes, volume III passes my back-of-the-book test with a six-page index, select bibliography and seven pages of additions and corrections to the previous volumes.

Collectors worldwide will find something of interest in the volume even if they don't specialize in the topic. Countries around the world have issued coins honoring ships of other nations; for example, U.S. Civil War buffs may be interested in the 2000 Liberian $20 coin featuring the "Battle of the Ironclads" between the Monitor and Merrimack.

Some coin designs that caught my eye included a 1999 Cook Islands $5 coin featuring the PS Sophia Jane (p239), the 1935 Fiji Shilling featuring an outrigger canoe (p283), and an interesting Palau piece on the 400th anniversary of the telescope (the inventor is shown peering at a distant ship).

Congratulations to Yossi Dotan for completing this massive project. He writes:

The book is published in England by The Alpha Press. Volume III has 460 pages and 770 coin images. The list price is $79.95 and the ISBN 978-1-898595-51-9.

For more information, or to order, see:
Watercraft on World Coins (www.sussex-academic.com/sa/titles/alpha_press/dotan.htm)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
REVIEW: WATERCRAFT ON WORLD COINS, VOLUME I BY YOSSI DOTAN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n45a05.html)
BOOK REVIEW: DOTAN, WATERCRAFT ON WORLD COINS VOLUME II (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n38a06.html)
NEW BOOK: WATERCRAFT ON WORLD COINS, VOL. III (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n45a03.html)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web