BOOK REVIEW: GUIDE BOOK BARBER COINS 3RD ED.

Like previous editions, Bowers begins his look at the three Charles E. Barber silver series by establishing the historical context within which the new coins appeared. He recounts the work of three judges to choose the best entry from a group of submissions. In the end, the three concluded that none of the submissions were decided improvements over the then-circulating Liberty Seated design.

Of course, one of the judges was Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, and in the end, Mint Director Edward O. Leech chose Barber for the design. Unfortunately, his creations did not meet with universal acclaim. One writer began his critique with the following sentence: The mountain has labored and brought forth a mouse.

In one of the book's many interesting chapters, Bowers gives the reader a look at what was happening in current events and on the numismatic scene in each of the years that Barber silver coins were produced. Having a personal interest in a few of the years, I looked at what Bowers had to say about 1905, the year my late father-in-law was born.

To read the complete article, see:
Review of Third ‘Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins' (https://www.numismaticnews.net/collecting-101/review-of-third-guide-book-of-barber-silver-coins)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: GUIDE BOOK BARBER SILVER COINS 3RD ED. (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n26a04.html)

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