Customer Reviews

Ceramic Coin Banks: Identification & Value Guide

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This 200 page softbound book contains over 1,000 full color, large, sharp photos of every type of ceramic coin bank. Each entry includes the description, size, dates and value (1997). Although essentially an I.D. and value guide, there is a considerable amount of information of value and interest to the collector. Included are: Ceramic Manufacturing Processes, Dating, Condition, Rarity Ratings, Geographical Ceramic Manufacturing Centers, and Photo Notes. Chapters range from Human heads, Humans, Cats, Dogs and Elephants, to Squirrel, Fish, Monkeys, Lions, Vegetables, Pots, Books, Vehicles and Ships and Purses. A complete glossary and bibliography are provided. Very useful for collectors of this popular topic.

This is a great book for the established or beginning coin bank collector! It really has a great variety for any type of specialized ceramic bank afficianado. As a long time collector & seller I recommend this book to any one!

The authors, Tom and Loretta Stoddard give a wealth of indepth knowledge
in the first 21 pages of this 1997 ediion book. Here is pioneering work at its best. The photograghs in this full colored 199 page book are very well presented. The contents consist of:
1. The Introduction: Here is givin some history of miniature ceramic banks. (one and a half pages)
2. Ceramic Manufacturing Process: Extremely helpfull insight to the entire art of processing, and what the differences are between different materials. Here is the decription of the two big "divisions" of ceramics: Earthenware and Porcelian. From that point is defined what is Pottery, Stoneware, Majolica, Hard paste porcelian, and Bone china, ect. (two and a half pages)
3. Identification and Dating: Here is the knowledge to learn how to identify and date items at a glance. (three and a half pages)
4. Condition: Here is stated what to look for in a quality bank, and what the differece is between banks that the glaze is frequently "crazed" and what defines a "crackle finish" (two pages)
5. Pricing: Details this many faceted subject. (one page)
6. Rarity Ratings: Here is described what makes the difference between one grade and another. (two pages)
7. Geographical Cermaic Manufacturing Centers: Now this section is very interesting. Here is brought to light the geographical areas where most coin banks where made. And some pottery manufacturing companys that made coin banks, such as:
"Bangorware" Brewer, Maine. Aprox. 1850 to 1900.
"Bennington Potteries" Bennington, Vermont. 1875 to ?.
"Old Sturbridge Village" Sturbridge, Massachusetts. This is a contemporary replication of an 1820 New England village and farm community. It includes the relocated and restored pottery of Hervey Brooks from 1795 to 1811. Reproductions of early pottery are made here, BUT ARE incised "OSV" to indicate they are contemporary.
"McCoy (Brush-McCoy" Roseville, Ohio. 1899 to present.
"Roseville" Roseville, Ohio. 1885 to 1954. All products made after 1910 where made in Zanesville, Ohio.
"Shawnee" ? 1937 to ?.
"Weller Pottery" ? 1873 to 1948.
"Herr Pottery" Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1875 to 1897.
"George Ohr Pottery" "The greatest art potter who ever lived" Most of his works ARE signed or marked. 1879 to 1906.
"Pennsylvania Redware Folkart Banks" Pennsylvania German potters, 1775 to 1825. BUT contemporary production is replicationg this process AND modern pieces exist. (three pages)
FROM THIS POINT starts the information about other country's productions of banks. VERY INFORMITIVE: To name a few: Austria, England, France, Germany, Asia. (five pages)
8. Photo Notes: Decription of how to read the information with each pictured illistration. (one page)
9. Here is the begining of 165 pages of colored photos. With each photo is stated the size, value and origin of each piece.
10. Glossary: Deffinations of various terms used in cermaics. (one and a half pages)
11. Two pages contain the Bibliography, and information about the authors.
12. Index: (two and a half pages)
I bought a small ceramic bank last summer at a sale, in fact it was so small I wasn't sure that it was a bank as it was only 1 3/4 inches high. I asked a dealer about it, and they told me it was indeed a bank, and showed me the picture of it in their copy of this book. Of course I ordered a copy of the book from Amazon for myself. (only used books were available because this book is now out of print) THAT was my wonderful introduction to the world of small ceramic coin banks, WHAT FUN! I am new to this area of collecting, and this book is PERFECT, easy to use, and a VERY DETAILED guide. This is an area of collecting that I never knew existed until recently, even though I've collected for many years. This book is not only a MUST HAVE for the collector, because it is SO VERY WELL COMPILED, BUT near as I can find IT is THE ONLY book ever to be published on this subject! This is an excelent reference book!
Published by "collectors Books" Paducah, Kentucky. Authors and copyright by Tom and Loretts Stoddard, 1997.