"Nice introduction by Q.David Bowers and interesting to read the stories of both contributors that led to their interest in the Classic Gold Coins of 1834-1839. Lots of welcome history is also included relating to the time period as well. For those who relish coins as a way to connect with our nation's own history this is an enticing read as to the subject time period. These "monuments" from the past become meaningful to the reader thanks to the incredible scholarly presentation by the current author who incorporated the efforts of his mentor consequent from their combined decades of research and study."

"The sentencing of John Schulman (and likewise his criminal partner Greg Priore) to home confinement and $55,000 in restitution for an ongoing $8M theft is a disgrace. They should be doing 10-15 years in prison. Everyone in the rare book field familiar with the case knows that Schulman is [lying]."

"At the risk of telling you something you already know, this is presumably Charles IV of Spain. The best matches I could spot (not knowing size/weight of coin) are 2 reales pieces from Peru or Mexico, both still Spanish possessions in the 1790s."

"With so little new programming on TV this year I've taken to recording older shows and movies for the evening's entertainment. One movie I remember seeing at a theater when new is Night of the Comet, so I watched it again this week on TV. It's set in and near Los Angeles, and in one scene I saw a brief flash of a very familiar name. Right next to a movie theater in Hollywood was the office of Bowers & Ruddy Galleries! The movie was released in 1984, so it was most likely shot a year or two earlier. It was around that same time that the newly renamed Bowers & Merena Galleries was established in New Hampshire, so the LA location was likely vacant already when the scene was filmed."