As is the case in writing most any catalog of modern world coins, you have to contend with all, or at least most, of the coins in your catalog already being widely published in the Standard Catalog of World Coins (SCWC). So how does Attilio Armiento add value beyond that? With higher quality photos. With entire types, or variants, which aren't mentioned in SCWC (I've not actually independently confirmed this--but the author carefully cross-references KM numbers and notes which coins aren't listed). With some additional information on mints, mint marks, and rarity in the retail marketplace. And, probably of greatest value, by producing a very attractive catalog focused on a single, international series of coins which, despite being fairly widely collected best I can tell, really has no other current, comprehensive catalog.

Of even greater interest to me personally, is the chapter of the catalog after all the individual coins are listed: A comprehensive listing, complete with useful photographs, of the various display panels and albums that the FAO sold to house the coins. While not really a dark secret, until I found this catalog, I was having trouble tracking down a comprehensive listing of the various items.

I will note that, while there is some background information on the program and history of the FAO, this is almost exclusively a catalog, in the sense of a listing of items, only. I would have appreciated more information on the genesis and progress of the now-ended program. Information on the marketing material and advertising used by the FAO would have added interesting information on the approach of the FAO in marketing to collectors starting in 1968 (assuming that even started at the very beginning...something else I'm curious about). A bit of information on the ephemera associated with the sales of albums would be interesting. For example, I know that at least the early albums came with printed sheets with information on the individual coins, but those don't appear to be mentioned anywhere in this book.

I've already asked the author if he knows of any catalog of the multiple series of medals that the FAO has issued over the years. He said that's he's working on that collection; I hope it eventually results in a catalog of this quality. I'd certainly buy a copy.