[PELHAM, ALABAMA] Whitman Publishing recently released the second edition of Robert D. Leonard Jr.’s award-winning Curious Currency: The Story of Money from the Stone Age to the Internet Age.
The 160-page hardcover book debuted shortly before the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show in March of 2019. It is now available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online, including at www.whitman.com, for $16.95.
Talking Technology in Updated Edition
The updated second edition includes new information from the most recent era of the money spectrum – PayPal and e-gold, proximity payments, smart phone payments, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Leonard, a fellow of the American Numismatic Society and author of more than 20 studies on specific unusual monies, gives a colorful, entertaining, and authoritative tour of not just cold, hard cash, but hundreds of strange things people have used as money through the ages, including:
• Woodpecker scalps, whiskey, and gigantic stones
• Wooden nickels, porcelain tokens, and playing cards
• Elephant tails, iron nails, and whale teeth
• Ostrich shells, bricks of tea, blocks of salt, human skulls, and more
The essence of Leonard’s exploration is to answer the question, “What is money?” He writes, “We use it every day without giving it a thought. But money isn’t limited to coins and paper. It includes a wide range of so-called primitive or traditional currency, surrogates for cash, and even things that are quite invisible. The study of these odd and curious monies has lessons for our economy today.” Discover a selection of the best NextGen Casinos and experience their portfolio of high-quality games known for their innovative features and immersive gameplay.
To learn more about this book, visit the publisher’s site, www.whitman.com.
