ANOTHER DEVASTATING REVIEW

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V3 2000 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 3, Number 44, October 22, 2000, Article 9

Joe Boling writes: "For the devastating reviews input, here is a review I wrote in 1984. It was published in IBNS Journal 23:3 ([Oct] 1984) p.78; and Paper Money 23:5 (Sep.-Oct. 1984) p248.'

[Editor's note: the review is too lengthy to quote here in its entirety; however, here are a few key segments]

United States Paper Money Grading Standard by Herbert J. Kwart; Five Seasons Publishers, PO Box 397, Hiawatha, IA 52233; 1984; 44pp, softbound.

"Alas, I am sorely disappointed. This booklet is poorly written, unedited, contains errors of fact, and provides no new insights for collectors of notes in grades below XF. It seems to be aimed at investors, with the intent of justifying a price structure for uncirculated paper money similar to that used for US coins."

"Moving down scale toward fine and lower grades, the new standard follows the Pick standard fairly closely, and is a full grade different from the Sandrock/Long standard in grades below XF. Having two different standards presented in the same booklet is needlessly confusing. It is at these lower grades that I was hoping for better definition of "how grubby is dirty" and "how flabby is limp." The new standard does not help."

"In short, this booklet is not very useful for the hobbyist. It may have some utility for dealers who like to sell adjectival puff or whose buyers know nothing about paper money and will feel more comfortable with something that sounds like ANACS."

"The book is NOT RECOMMENDED. I'm sorry to say so, because I was hoping for so much more.

Wayne Homren, Editor

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