BOOK REVIEW: ELECTRUM

ELECTRUM AND THE INVENTION OF COINAGE
Joseph Linzalone

I have always been interested in electrum coinage, but unfortunately have never owned one. There are a small number of books on the subject and most of the books are relatively expensive, up to and above $200. These books are not readily available off the shelf and I am hesitant to purchase one sight unseen. I met a dealer at the last Ogden show with two copies of this book and I was able to flip through it and was impressed so I purchased a copy. The price was $95 which is still fairly expensive but after looking at it I made the purchase.

Although written in 2011 the information was what I was looking for. The title "Electrum and The Invention of Coinage" is very accurate as electrum was indeed the first coinage in the world dating from 660 BC in Ionia and Lydia in what is now western Turkey.

Electrum is a natural alloy of gold and silver usually found in small pieces (or nuggets) in local rivers and streams. Initially it was stamped with crude markings and through the years designs were impressed. Gold content did not matter but rather basic size and weight is what determined value.

The book is quite informative and is illustrated in full color with hundreds of specimens identified and pictured.

The book measures 6x9 and is published hardcover and in full color. It consists of 231 pages and I found it contains excellent information and easy reading. Electrum truly was the invention of coinage and again with a price of $95 I found the book a great value for my library.

For more information on the Utah Numismatic Society, see:
https://www.facebook.com/UtahNumismaticSociety

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: ELECTRUM AND THE INVENTION OF COINAGE (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n45a04.html)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web