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Vol 07 No. 05 May 1993


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About This File

It's at the printer and will be ready to ship within 30 days. What's that you say? Another book about ancient coins? The past year has seen a number of welcome additions to the field of numismatic literature and collectors have some ex citing new choices
 
The book we're referring to is, of course, From the Coin's Point of View, by Bob Levy. The format and content of this new work are a departure from the norm and combine a sense of history with whimsical humor to offer real entertainment. This is no small accomplishment in the somewhat staid environment of ancient coin collecting. Levy has built, over a relatively short span of years, an incredible collection of ancient coins. The collection is not re markable for its size~ it consists of only 63 pieces. It is not remarkable for its rarity (although there are some very rare examples included), or for its breadth. The collection includes imperatorial and Julio-Claudian coins, mostly in silver.
 
The most remarkable aspect of Bob Levy's collection is the level of connoisseurship which it represents. Many of the coins in this collection bear impressive pedigrees, but it is not a collection about pedigrees. The reason that coins from famous old collections reappear in the Levy collection is that the merits of these particular coins were appreci3lcd by great connoisseurs of the past.
 
The book is divided into three main parts. The first section includes a series of articles which Bob wrote for The Celator over the past four years. The book includes an unpublished article as well. These articles follow the recur ring theme "If this coin could only talk what a story it would have to tell." Levy's pen brings the coins in his col lection to life as they relate, in their own words, wonderful tales of intrigue, discovery, and a gamut of human-like emotions. The second section provides historical background and technical numismatic details which are of real value to the collector of early Roman coinage. The third section is a catalog of the collection itself, with provenance and very detailed historical descriptions. Prefacing the three sections is a substantive introduction by David R. Sear. A glossary and bibliography are also included.
 
The format is befitting the contents, with 8- 1/2 x 11 pages, hardbound and sewn, color dust jacket, and it is printed on heavyweight satin finish paper stock. This book is profusely illustrated, with hundreds of photos, many of them significantly enlarged. It is as much a joy to look at as it is to read. Adding to the joy is the price tag of $29.95 (plus $3.50 postage in the U.S.). This is a book that no collector of ancient coins should pass up at that price! It is available through Clio's Cabinet (our publishing banner) or from your favorite bookseller.
 
We are about to embark upon another venture that should serve both our readers and our advertisers. Beginning in May, we will begin distributing decks of reply-card offerings on a quarterly basis. We would anticipate that these decks will include offerings of books, coins, services, announcements and solicitations. The number of cards will be limited to 32 per deck. They will be mailed in a plain white envelope, so as to protect the confidentiality of the recipient.
 
These decks will be sent to our list of active subscribers and to our inactive list, which is comprised of fanner sub scribers or individuals who have re quested sample copies of The Celator. In all, the decks will be mailed to over 3,000 potential customers.
 
We 've also added some new titles to the list of video tapes produced by David Lisot and sold through The Celator. We will be expanding this list over the next few months and will be adding some of our own titles produced by Clio's Cabinet.
 
This month 's Point of View has taken on a pretty commercial flavor, and I apologize for that, but we are always looking for ways to generate growth capital without increasing our subscription or advertising rates. These projects, and your cooperative support, will help.
 
It's been a while since we did a show in southern California, and we miss the camaraderie of that erudite group of numismatists, so we have included the early June Long Beach show in our travel plans. The next two months will be pretty hectic. We will be attending the Central States convention in Chicago; followed by Long Beach, the New York International, and the Mid America show in Milwaukee. Although the travel can be tough on these aging bones, the chance to see so many old friends make it worthwhile. The show/convention circuit is quite a phenomenon. It has, in some ways, the mystique of a floating crap game. People converge on a site, generate a flurry of activity, and then vanish into the four comers of the globe. It's always interesting to see who will turn up at the game next time. The shows listed in our Coming Events section generally attract dealers in and col lectors of ancient and medieval coins. If at all possible, attending one or more of these events is an experience that I highly recommend. It is not only fun and entertaining; it is also educational, and in the long run potentially profitable.
 
Thanks to all of our faithful readers who pass along little notes of encouragement with their subscription renewals. We read and appreciate every one of them. Have a great new season of discovery in ancient coins and take a moment along the way to share your point of view.
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