Since the prospectus for the planned "coin" publication was very vague,
let me jump in with a couple of thoughts that were probably obvious to
more than a few list members ..

OK, not to put too fine a point on it ... But, coins and tokens are
probably the best documented artifacts that we could possibly find on an
archaeological site.  There are shelves of books dedicated to every type
of coin, token, and medal that you could possibly think of, dating back to
Classical times. So, I see very little utility in another book that
reiterates what is available from so many other, and almost certainly,
infinitely more complete sources ... At least in terms of basic IDs.  That
was exactly what was wrong with Left Coast Press' recent book on ceramic
marks.  Although it promised much, it yielded almost no information that
was not readily available in standard reference books.

Now, on the other hand, if your proposed publication is going to focus on
the presence of "atypical" coinage, medals, etc., in well documented
archaeological settings, then I can see some utility to the book, and the
potential for adding significant new information.  However, if you're
going to tell me that you found a 1863 U.S. 2-cent piece on a
mid-nineteenth farmstead in Ohio, that is information frankly not worth
knowing. 

Just my 2-cents.

Mark
___________________________________

Mark C. Branstner, RPA
Senior Historical Archaeologist

Illinois State Archaeological Survey
Prairie Research Institute
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
23 East Stadium Drive
Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 217.244.0892
Fax: 217.244.7458
Cell: 217.549.6990
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"The difference between genius and idiocy? Genius has its limits."  --
Albert Einstein









On 7/31/13 1:08 PM, "ROBERT NEYLAND" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Coins and tokens from shipwreck sites may be useful since these are
>usually well dated sites.
>
>
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>On Jul 31, 2013, at 1:42 PM, "James C. Bard"
><[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Send information to Margie Akin and James Bard regarding coins and
>>token finds
>> 
>> Bard is:   [log in to unmask]
>> Akin is:    [log in to unmask]
>> 
>> thanks!