The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 8, February 20, 2005, Article 5

MENZEL BOOKS ON COBS PUBLISHED

The following is taken from the press release:
he American Numismatic Society is pleased to announce
the forthcoming publication of:

Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, by
Sewall Menzel 496p, over 2000 illus. (American
Numismatic Society 2004) ISBN 0897222849.
Price US $125.00 (ANS members receive a 30% discount)

The book will be available in March, and can be ordered
now through the ANS#39; book distributor, The David
Brown Book Co.

In this comprehensive study, Sewall Menzel brings out the
critical details needed to understand the ten early Spanish
mints of México, Santo Domingo, Perú, Potosí, Panama,
Santa Fe de Bogotá, (Nuevo Reino de Granda), Cartagena,
Cuzco, Guatemala and Cuba and their respective coinages.
Through the use of some two thousand photos and diagrams
the coins are identified by mint, king, denomination, assayer
and type.

After the legendary conquests in Latin America by Hernando
Cortez and Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish crown began to
set up an extensive administration, which allowed better
control and exploration of its newly found wealth. Royal
mints were set up to account for gold and silver coming
from mines such as those at Potosí. At the same time, coins
were being minted for commercial transaction in large
quantities. For over 250 years the mints churned out millions
of “cob”-style coins, many of which found their way into the
treasure galleons of the day. Soon, mints such as Mexico and
Potosí became known as the financial 'pillars of empire' and
enabled Spain to engage in seemingly endless wars of
conquest and plunder. Geography, crown intransigence,
bureaucratic incompetence, royal intrigues and outright
scandal all had an impact on the mints and their productions.

Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins will be the
standard work for the next generation of scholars and
collectors in this field.

Sewall Menzel is a leading authority in the field of Spanish
American Numismatics. After retiring from military service
in 1989 as an Army colonel, Menzel began working at
Florida International University in 1993 as an adjunct and
contract professor with the Department of Political Science,
teaching in the fields of Latin American politics and U.S.
foreign and national security policy.

The David Brown Book Co., PO Box 511, Oakville
CT 06779 Toll-free: 800-791-9354 Tel: 860-945-9329
Fax: 860-945-9468 email: david.brown.bk.co at snet.net
Direct link to the book Link to Book
Or to the David Brown Web site: David Brown Web site
enter the site, then click "distributed titles" and choose -
The American Numismatic Society and miscellaneous
publications.

For more information contact Joanne Isaac, Museum
Administrator at: 212-571-4470 ext. 1306
or email isaac at numismatics.org "

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

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