NEW BOOK: THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL PARK QUARTERS BOOK

David Ganz writes:

Zyrus Press, whose publishing backlist includes books helping older people collect coins, the story about the fabulous 1913 Liberty nickel, a buyer’s guide to silver dollars, and gold coins of the New Orleans Mint, has added a very current issue–The Official National Park Quarters Book, by David L. Ganz.

Ganz, who is a past president of the American Numismatic Association and one of the innovation creators of the state quarter program, is an award-winning writer with more than 30 books to his credit, about half of which are about coinage. He also is an author of what is currently hot in the U.S. Mint’s production schedule – quarters bearing national park designs.

By the time that the program’s first round is complete in 2019, the United States Mint will be a beneficial program for the government, and profitable in their specialty division that manufactures circulating coin designs, half cent to double eagle. The book tells the story of how the coins was widely popular, even though some of its sponsors tried to renege on the deal.

Covered in the one volume, 275 page paperback is an encyclopedic coverage of the national park quarters whose issues include a large Five Ounce (Three Inch Diameter) “Quarter” coin, mandated at those dimensions by Congress; proof versions, silver non-circulating legal tender regular-size coins, and copper nickel clad coins that circulate.

Composed of two sections, starting with the background of how the coins were created out of the success of the 50 state quarter coin program, its Congressional sponsorship, and visions of significant profit for the Mint, which, founded in 1792 produces state quarters and other coins at Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco and West Point.

The second half of the book is a catalogue which includes photos of all of the losing designs, all the while paying homage to the winners. Sketches of complemented by direct quotations of the design hearings held for each coin before the Commission of Fine Arts in Washington and the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee

Mintage figures, current prices, and much previously unpublished information about each coin’s creation are rounded out with commentary and analysis from former Mint Director Philip Diehl (who recognizes Ganz as the father of the state quarter program), Donald Scarinci, who serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee and knows the author as a fellow lawyer who practices in New York and New Jersey, and Arthur Friedberg, head of the Coin & Currency Institute and a friend of the author since the early 1970's.

Ganz started writing about coins in 1965, and by 1969, became the newly minted Washington correspondent for Krause Publications, home to Numismatic News and Coins Magazine. His “Under the Glass” column has been published in each of six decades since. He has written thousands of articles in hobby newspapers and magazines and found the time to write books while also practicing law and serving as a local county legislative leader and town Mayor.

He served on the board of the American Numismatic Association from 1985-1995, and as its 48th president (1993-1995). A founding board member of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets, he is a recipient of the ICTA Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2012, both The Bergen County NAACP Freedom Fund Award, and the Care Plus “Courage” Award.

The Official National Park Quarters Book. By David L. Ganz. 275 pages, index, illustrated, price guide. $14.95 (paperback). Published by Zyrus Press.

For more information, see: www.NationalParkQuarterBook.com

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