Description
-
This book spans Flying Eagle Cents (1856–1858) and Indian Head Cents (1859–1909). It gives a full historical overview of the era.
-
It includes mintages, collector challenges, and interesting die varieties (e.g. variations in design, mintmark styles, proofs, altered coins).
-
Contains essays (including one by noted numismatist Q. David Bowers), and guidance for collectors on circulating vs proof coins; condition grading (Brown / Red Brown / Full Red); counterfeit detection; plus recent auction records.
Specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Pages | 304 pages |
| Size / Format | 6 × 9 inches; softcover / paperback; full color |
| ISBN-10 | 079484412X |
| Publisher / Author | Whitman Publishing, Richard Snow |
| Release / Edition Info | Third edition; it updates previous editions with new content: appending items like biographies of designers, sections on detecting counterfeits, price histories, etc. |
Why Collectors Should Have It
-
The book is especially useful for identifying rare varieties, die differences, and condition-rarity combos (e.g. which dates are rare in Red vs Full Red, which proofs are scarce).
-
Helps in understanding grading distinctions & authenticity issues — very helpful given common fakes, altered coins, or worn examples that lose key features.
-
Auction record appendices give up-to-date values and insight into how the market treats certain conditions / rarities.
-
Good mix of history, visual references, pricing, and variety catalogs all in one place — so it’s a strong resource for both new and advanced small-cent collectors.
