Focus on Coins and Currency

Written by an author with a lifelong interest in her subject, this is an enthusiastic and informed book in an area where there is a dearth of suitable material for children. It is primarily aimed at would-be collectors with a lot of advice about how to go about establishing a collection but it would also be useful for project work on the history of money. High quality colour illustration allows the reader to examine notes and coins in detail. The author avoids taking an exclusively Eurocentric view and there is good coverage of currencies past and present from around, the world. The weakest element is the arrangement which is somewhat difficult to follow, as sections on countries are interspersed with non-related items such as coin alphabets and unusually shaped coins. Inclusion of interesting snippets, strange facts and oddities, adds to the book's appeal, as does the practical advice about coin and note care. A good value buy for the enthusiast and a useful title for the school library.