WALTER BREEN'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNITED STATES AND COLONIAL PROOF COINS 1722–1977
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The One Hundred Greatest Items Of United States Numismatic Literature Rank: Number 20
Clain-Stefanelli 12268, Davis 140
Breen could have dispelled much controversy by entitling this volume “Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof-like Coins,” but then, it probably would not have sold as well. Dave Bowers summed it up best: “…he [Breen] considers more coins to be Proofs than do I.” Thus, we are left with Breen’s legacy – a genius who created work that is sometimes difficult to build upon due to lack of supporting documentation. Still, there is much of value here – numerous auction citations and other hints which guide further investigation. For example, Breen cites documentation associated with the 1906 Denver presentation double eagle, and sure enough, this shows up later in Stack’s 72nd Anniversary sale. Also useful are notes on proof die varieties and proof coin deliveries, all set amid Breen’s editorial voice panning the scrubbers and speculators, who today, ironically, cite Breen ad nauseam in breathless catalogue descriptions. Finally, there are a number of amusing anecdotes recounted here, such as H. P. Smith’s deposition describing how the coin and medal clerk at the Philadelphia mint mishandled proof gold in 1886.
1st Edition
Photo courtesy of Jim Bowling.
Photo courtesy of Jim Bowling.
BREEN, Walter. WALTER BREEN'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNITED STATES AND COLONIAL PROOF COINS 1722–1977.
Albertson, NY: 1977
324pp, illustrated
Quarto
Hardbound: Brown cloth, lettered in gilt, dust jacket
1989 New Revised and Corrected Edition
Photo courtesy of Steve Shupe Numismatic Library.
BREEN, Walter. WALTER BREEN'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNITED STATES AND COLONIAL PROOF COINS 1722–1989, WITH ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE 1977 VOLUME.
Wolfeboro, NH: Bowers & Merena, 1989
338pp, illustrated
Quarto
Softbound: Pictorial card covers