NEW BOOK: INTERNATIONAL NICKEL & GOULD PATTERNS

A new book by researcher Roger Burdette has been announced. The topic is the rare 1960s-1970s era coinage patterns produced on contract for the U.S. Mint by manufacturers International Nickel and Gould Incorporated. Here's the press release. -Editor

Seneca Mill Press LLC has released the latest numismatic research book by Roger W. Burdette: Private Pattern and Related Pieces: International Nickel & Gould Incorporated.

This full color volume contains in-depth research on all known varieties of private pattern piece made by International Nickel Corp. (Inco) and Gould, Inc.

The private patterns are placed within their historical context and the commercial goals of both companies. Inco, by addressing the replacement of silver coinage in the United States from 1964-65, sought to increase the amount of nickel used in our coinage. Gould, Inc. proposed changing to powdered metal technology in 1976-78 and advocated use of compressed and sintered titanium in small size dollar coins. Although neither company was successful, they left a fascinating legacy of design, alloy and layered composition test pieces similar in size to standard U.S. coins.

Numismatist Tom Delorey was the first to write about Inco private pattern pieces in 1981. Former Inco employee Kenn Henderson followed with several articles in 1985 – more than 30 years ago. Andrew Pollock followed with updated and numbered varieties in his 1994 book United States Patterns and Related Issues. Pollock also added private patterns made in 1976-78 by Gould, Inc. for a proposed small-size dollar coin.

This new volume fills in numerous omissions and discrepancies in the original Pollock publication, and greatly expands the variety listings. Extensive concordance tables cross reference Pollock variety numbers with new, more extensive "RB" numbers. The new variety numbering also has wide intervals between items so that new discoveries may be added without disturbing the existing sequence. This will aid in establishing the correct variety description, while facilitating improved variety identification.

Mr. Burdette's careful documentation, thorough investigation and factual reporting are as educational as they are professional. Readers will understand the importance of the subject, and be afforded a comprehensive reference guide to Inco and Gould patterns previously non-existent. This is the definitive work that supplants and incorporates all earlier efforts. The images are crisp and clear, the charts easy to navigate and the detailed, clearly understandable scientific explanations of material processes will leave the reader with a profound knowledge and few unanswered questions, if any.

Private Pattern and Related Pieces: International Nickel & Gould Incorporated is available from Wizard Coin Supply (www.wizardcoinsupply.com/?). Cover price for the 8-1/2x11-inch, color book is $29.95.

Roger is a meticulous and thoroughly original numismatic researcher. He takes nothing he reads at face value, always digging deeper to locate original contemporary source materials. Roger also scoured the country finding and meeting holders of the material and employees of the companies that made them.

Roger lives in my area, and I have the pleasure of meeting with him at many of my monthly Nummis Nova numismatic social dinners. One evening this week I swung by to meet him on my way home from work to pick up a copy of the book. It's well illustrated, in color, with detailed tables of information on all known types, varieties and metals, together with historical information and Roger's insightful analysis.

Understanding pattern coinage is a key to truly understanding and appreciating the mint's ultimate official products. The patterns themselves are quite important, rare and interesting coins worthy of collector and market attention. This book will solidify their place in the corpus of American numismatics; look for updates to the standard cataloging cataloging schemes for U.S. Pattern coinage and new holdering from the grading services when these now less-mysterious pieces come to market. -Editor