Description
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The book is Red Book Series #18, titled A Guide Book of Mercury Dimes, Standing Liberty Quarters, and Liberty Walking Half Dollars by Q. David Bowers.
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It covers three classic U.S. silver coin series: the Mercury Dime, the Standing Liberty Quarter, and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. These coins were minted between 1916 and 1947, an era that spans World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and World War II.
Key Contents & Features
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Includes history of each coin series, design changes, mint practices, context for how socio-economic conditions shaped these coins.
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Grading guidance: how to assess condition, what wear looks like at different grades, what defects detract value.
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Smart buying tips: what to watch for, how certified population / availability affects value, which date-mint combinations are keys.
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Full date-by-date + mintmark analyses for each series. Includes variety/die-variety / overdates, etc.
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Rich, full-color photographs and enlargement of important varieties/die anomalies.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pages | 320 pages |
| Format | 1st Edition; paperback / softcover; full color; size ~ 6 × 9 inches |
| ISBN-10 | 079484314X |
| Publication Date | July 2015 (1st edition) |
Why It’s Valuable for Collectors
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If you collect any of those three series (Mercury Dimes, Standing Liberty Quarters, Walking Liberty Halves), this gives you one reference that covers all three — saves you having to cross-reference multiple books.
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Because these coins are heavily collected, variety identification (e.g. overdates, die cracks, mintmark placement, etc.) is important; this Guide Book gives you the tools & photos.
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Knowing certified population (how many are graded, what grades) helps with valuing your coins or deciding which pieces are underpriced.
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Great for both beginners and advanced collectors: the essays help tell the story, the date-by-date data helps nitpick.
