[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, Gloria Peters & Cynthia Mohon. This information was originally published in 1995 in The Complete Guide to Shield and Liberty Head Nickels
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Foreword
by Ken Bressett
Block out the rest of the day to read this book. It is not one that you can skim and put on your bookshelf for future reference. This is a book that should be enjoyed as much as collecting the coins. It is the story of a passion for Shield and Liberty design 5-cent coins. A story ably told by two collectors who combine research, experience and writing skill to bring these coins to life.
This is not the first or only book to cover the subject of early United States 5-cent coins. Nor is it a rewrite of other works. It is a compilation of nearly every useful bit of information, combined with all of the latest discoveries and investigative reporting that the authors could muster.
Over 38 new varieties of Shield nickels and 62 new varieties of Liberty coins have been added to the known pieces that are listed in other references. The authors’ research goes well beyond just listing such pieces. Complete details are given to aid collectors in identifying them.
One of the most useful parts of this book are the listings by date of each coin with comments about rarity, availability, condition and varieties. This is the part that you will use repeatedly, and be glad that it is available on your shelf. The rest of the book will provide not just expertise, but hours of enjoyable reading.
Prior to 1985, U.S. 5-cent coins were never very well explored, cataloged or collected. Within the past decade they have taken on a new appeal, and have been the subject of several books, each of which has contributed much new knowledge and collector appeal for the series. This latest effort adds more reasons for the series to be appreciated and given its place among serious numismatic studies.
If you like pithy, homespun stories about coins you will enjoy this book. Its chatty style is entertaining as well as educational. It is much more than a text book. It is a passport to the world of nickel collecting.
Ken Bressett
Colorado Springs
June 7, 1995